Algarve Rural Fires

The Algarve's Rural Fires
Portugal's wildfires hit world headlines again this summer as Southern Europe grappled with record-high temperatures. Watching newsreels of thousands of hectares of land on fire is becoming a more common sight in the media every year. 
On two occasions, those staying on Boavista this summer would have smelt the smoke, seen the sky turn a dull yellow hue, and known that there was a rural fire devastating another area of rural Portugal.
So what are the facts, and how worried should we be?

Fueling the flames
According to statsita.com, Portugal has been the European country most affected by wildfires over the past decade. Between 2009 and 2021, an average area of over 80,000 hectares was burned every year. The worst year was 2017, with the rapidly spreading wildfires in Central Portugal killing 66 people.
Portugal is ranked as having one of the highest forest fire risks in Europe. Fire researchers all point to the same combination of contributing factors: shifting demographics with the population relocating from rural to urban areas, changes in land use with more agricultural with the forested regions not being maintained, and fragmentation of land ownership which discourages investment in forest management and fire planning.
Rural fires are one of the most serious natural disasters in Portugal, due to their high frequency along with their destructive effects, with loss of life and damage to property. 

The fires in 2023 that affected the Algarve 
The fire that broke out in São Teotónio, in the municipality of Odemira, on 5 August, 223 is the largest recorded in Portugal this year, consuming at least 7,530 hectares of land and forcing the evacuation of 1,400 people.
The blaze in Portugal erupted in the southern municipality of Odemira. Fuelled by high temperatures and strong winds, the wildfire swiftly rampaged over 7,000 hectares (17,300 acres) filled with highly flammable pine and eucalyptus trees.
Officials said they had evacuated 20 villages, four tourist accommodations and a camping site as a precautionary measure. The blaze, which injured at least nine firefighters, also temporarily closed several roads.

Nearly 1,000 firefighters in Portugal scrambled to contain a wildfire that raged for four days to stop it spreading to the Algarve. It did, however, enter Monchique in the northern part of the municipality, forcing the evacuation of 18 people from their homes and a rural tourism unit.
If you now visit the popular Algarvian resort of Odeceixe, the surrounding land is a baron wasteland of scorched ground reaching the edge of the pretty whitewashed town. Looking at the devastation leading right up to the walls of houses, it seems a miracle that it was saved from the flames.
The fire recorded in Sarzedas, in the municipality of Castelo Branco, in the north of the country in August led to 6553 hectares of burned area. As of September 2023, 33,006 hectares of land were burned.

What Causes the rural fires in Portugal?
Of course, the main culprit is climate change. Scientists say heatwaves are becoming more frequent. Portugal is following a trend towards more heat waves and droughts. Heat-driven wildfires are the dominant cause of fire in Iberia, driven by temperature and dryness of fuels. They are associated with calm winds and sustained hot and dry conditions conducive to low fuel moisture. 'Wind-driven' wildfires occur on days with sudden warm conditions and powerful winds. 
But there cannot be smoke without fire, and Portugal's Minister of Internal Affairs, José Luís Carneiro, told reporters that around two-thirds of this year's fires have been caused by the negligent use of fire. "Between August 20 -25, we will once again have very hot temperatures and moments of extreme drought in the country and, therefore, my appeal is that, once again, we try to avoid the use of fire – whether for domestic, agricultural or forestry purposes – and in the use of agricultural and/ or forestry machinery."
Arson is another significant cause. On 6 September, the judiciary police announced that they had arrested a 38-year-old man suspected of starting ten forest fires between July and September.

How can we help?
Alerta was founded in 2013 on Facebook by Debbie Burton. It was a small group, relying on eyewitness reports such as "there is smoke" or "I can see a helicopter", and was aimed at giving information to the English-speaking expat population.
As they progressed in numbers and experience, things improved. They discovered the ANEPC page, which is the most reliable, factual and up-to-date. And they realised that the expat community was keen to support and donate money to the brave firefighters.
Debbie ran the page alone until 2017 when the member numbers began to expand. During the fire of 2017 in Monchique, they collected and delivered food, snacks, water and toiletries daily to the Bombeiros. After 2017, they realised that they needed to form an association and Associação para Alerta de Incendio Florestal (Forest Fire Alert) was born. In 2019, Debbie was awarded the British Empire medal, by Her Majesty the Queen for services to the community in the Algarve. The group now focuses on fundraising rather than offering on-the-ground assistance to firefighters. They have built up communication networks with local fire stations so they can understand what is needed and allocate the required funds. During the Odemira fire this year, the charity sent water and energy bars to the crews on the front line. 
Debbie saw a huge increase in donations last year when the rural fires impacted the Golden Triangle, where many expats have valuable properties. This meant they received huge contributions, allowing them to spend 90,000€ on equipment. 
They now try to continue fundraising throughout the year, not just when the fires are taking place, allowing them to keep money in the kitty to offer support during the summer months. If you wish to support the firefighters, then joining the Alerta Facebook group is a great way to donate or see where there are fundraising events. Alerta will also have a stand at BLIP in Portimão arena on Saturday, 14 October, 10h00 - 18h00 and Sunday, 15 October, 10h00 - 16h00.

What is the Portuguese government doing to reduce rural fires?
The Portuguese government committed itself to implementing a National Plan for the Integrated Management of Rural Fires (PNGIFR), approved in June 2020, defining a model for preventing and protecting people and infrastructure.
It attempts to achieve these goals by implementing good practices in landscape planning and management, namely the implementation of firebreaks. You will see these cleared strips of land in the rural areas behind Lagos.
The Safe Villages Safe People programme is another national project to prevent rural fires. Organised by ANEP Portuguese National Authority for Emergencies and Civil Protection, it carries out evacuation and confinement drills in rural villages. There are now 2315 safe villages in Portugal.

In a press conference in 2022, the President of the ICNF Board of Directors (The Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests), Nuno Banza, highlighted that "we have a very rich natural heritage, with protected areas, but our forest areas have plant material that is combustible and no matter how much effort we make to protect ourselves - people, goods and natural heritage -, we have to be aware that there will always be a country that has the possibility of burning. It is an individual responsibility of each one of us, and a collective responsibility, as a community, to work to ensure that this does not happen."

The government also implemented a law that by 30 April each year, landowners must clear the 50 metres of the land surrounding their house and, for municipalities, 100 metres surrounding a village. Asking residents to participate in the collective effort to prevent the risk of wildfires and protect people's lives, they used fines to reinforce the message of up to 5,000 euros for individuals and up to 25,000 for legal bodies. If it is not cleaned, you should report it to the GNR. 

There has also been a drive to improve early fire detection using the police and military. Caneiro said this year, "We're basically talking about reinforcing patrols and surveillance with the armed forces and GNR police forces, which have allowed for greater efficiency, particularly in detecting fires," The minister also said that there are more than 200 GNR patrols this year, checking for fires, and another 50 by other members of the Armed Forces.

The preservation of water has also been vital in trying to reduce the number of rural fires. A new campaign promoted by the Águas de Portugal Group and the Portuguese Environment Agency has the motto, "Water is life – don't waste it". This action is part of a framework of measures to combat drought in partnership with the Water and Waste Services supported by financing from the Environmental Fund of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action. This initiative aims to raise awareness among the population about reducing water consumption to promote practices that encourage its efficient use in the current context of drought and water scarcity.

There is no doubt that their policies have been successful. Provisional data show a substantial reduction in the area burned compared to the same period in 2022. Minister of Internal Affairs José Luís Carneiro noted that "the Portuguese have become more responsible" towards the fire risks these days. Proof of this is "the fact that there have been fewer ignitions this year than in 2022."

How to stay safe from rural fires in Portugal
It is important to stress that Boavista is not situated in a rural area so the chance of a fire spreading in an urban area with good access and ample water supplies, including fire hydrants, is minimal.
However, those who own a house in the country are more vulnerable to fires because of the proximity of vegetation. Therefore, cleaning the vegetation around houses is the best way to prevent a fire from reaching you and your property. There is a now well-developed warning system; the IPMA, in conjunction with the INCF, publishes the rural fire risk chart daily by municipality.
Safe Communities is a qualified Civil Protection Volunteer organisation under Portuguese law and has participated in many Civil Protection exercises and whose aim is to protect, advise and educate the expat community. Their new Facebook group, Safe Communities Portugal Protection Against Natural Disasters, aims to increase risk awareness and preparedness so everyone knows how to reduce the impact of major disasters where possible and what action to take during such events. Safe Communities also tweet updates daily by sharing and translating relevant information the Portuguese government shares and by sharing important information from those experiencing the fires firsthand, including risk awareness, warnings, and preparation, ensuring the source is accurate. On Facebook, they post updates on almost an hourly basis following the same method. For more focussed and up-to-date information on natural hazards concerning major fires,#Follow their new Facebook Group: https://lnkd.in/dMAkRGB4. 

Rural Fire Prevention and Protection Action List
The following is a top ten list of actions that should be taken to ensure the safety of yourself, your family and your property. This has been endorsed by the AGIF.
1.    Check if you are living in a high-risk fire area (see map and list of parish)
2.    Undertake land cleaning without delay – if advice is required, contact local civil protection or Hotline 808 200 520 by 15 March.
3.    Neighbouring land – if it poses a fire risk and cannot be resolved, contact GNR as soon as possible
4.    Prepare your house by cleaning the roof, terraces, leaves from gutters etc.
5.    Controlled burning of debris- ensure authorisation/permit is obtained before and follow safety regulations
6.    Familiarise yourself with self-protection measures under the Safe Village – Safe People Program.
7.    For those in high-risk areas – prepare or update an Emergency Evacuation Kit.
8.    Keep emergency contact numbers at hand.
9.    In high-risk areas – familiarise yourself with village and evacuation plans and assembly points. If none, identify an escape route and safety point.
10.    Keep up to date with developments through ICNF, ANEPC, IPMA websites or, Safe Communities or ALERTA for updates in English.