With the repair of the backup plane, Avincis, the company responsible for these heavy aircraft operating in Portugal, has restored three operational CL-215 aircraft based in Castelo Branco “to support the Portuguese authorities in fighting fires throughout the country,” the source stated.
The entry into operation of the reserve plane completes the process of replacing aircraft by the company, necessary after two Canadair planes assigned to the Special Device for Fighting Rural Fires (DECIR) went out of service, and a third replacement was also inoperative for potential breakdowns.
The two DECIR aircraft had already been replaced on Tuesday and Thursday.
As a result of these breakdowns, Portugal activated the bilateral cooperation mechanism with Morocco, which sent two replacement Canadair aircraft, now part of DECIR until the end of this week, operating from Monte Real Air Base.
Portugal has been on alert due to the fire risk since August 2nd, and in recent weeks, several fires have broken out in the north and center of the country, consuming more than half of around 75,000 hectares burnt this year.
The alert status was extended until Sunday, announced on Thursday by the Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, at the end of a visit to ANEPC.
“Facing the adversity of 22 consecutive days of intense heat showing no signs of slowing, the Government will once again extend the alert status until Sunday,” the minister told reporters.
