SAFE VILLAGE – SAFE PEOPLE PROGRAM

Although no lives were lost during the Monchique fires, there were injuries, houses and other properties destroyed or damaged; considerable destruction to the environment; death and injury of animals; people who have lost their homes and were displaced, and livelihoods affected.

Not only physical damage, but also psychological damage to those who lived through this terrifying ordeal.

With any incident of this magnitude, Government undertakes reviews to identify issues which went according to plan and importantly those where there are lessons to be learned. By doing this there is an opportunity to move forward and bring about changes where necessary.

A proposal made by Safe Communities Portugal to the Government last week, recommending that a direct channel be formed to enable individual members of the public who were affected, plus volunteer agencies who were on the ground, to share their first hand experiences and make suggestions for the future, has been agreed by the Ministry of Internal Administration.

This will be conducted under the Safe Village Safe people program

For those wishing to submit their observations and suggestions in English or Portuguese, can do this by using the following government email: aldeiasegura@prociv.pt . Views submitted will help in this review process.

Te IPMA have advised that, on Saturday, the 18th August, the maximum air temperature will rise sharply, especially on the coast. The minimum temperature will also register a rise, particularly in the night from Saturday to Sunday.

On 18^th and 19^th, the maximum temperature will vary between 28 and 35 ° C in the coastal regions, between 29 and 34 ° C in the interior regions of the North and between 35 and 39 ° C in the regions of the interior of the Center and South. Maximum temperatures may reach 40 ° C in some places of the Alentejo and Tagus Valley.

To protect yourself from the harmful effects that intense heat may have on your health, you should stay abreast of the news and keep yourself hydrated and cool. The DGS recommends:

• Seek cool environments (preferably air conditioned);
• Try to keep the heat out of your home: close the blinds or shutters and keep air circulating inside the house; keep the house as cool as possible and avoid using the oven.
• Drink water or fresh, sugar-free fruit juices and avoid drinking alcohol;
• Avoid direct exposure to the sun, especially between 11 am and 5 pm.
• Wear loose (cotton) clothing that keeps most of your body covered, as well as a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses;
• Wear sunscreen with a protection factor higher than 30 and reapply every two hours.
• Choose the coolest hours to travel by car.
• Do not remain inside parked vehicles exposed to the sun and do not leave pets in the car either;
• Avoid strenuous physical activities;
• Pay particular attention to those who are more vulnerable to the heat, such as: children; the elderly; the chronically ill; pregnant women; people with reduced mobility; People who work outdoors and Isolated people;
• Offer water to newborn babies, children, the elderly and the sick, who may not be able to say that they are thirsty;
• The chronically ill and patients who are being medicated or following specific diets should obey their doctors’ orders;
• Children under the age of six months should not be exposed to the sun; children under the age of three should not be exposed to direct sunlight and should wear protective clothing and a sunscreen with a protection factor higher than fifty.

More details from DGS can be downloaded in Portuguese here

INCREASE IN WEATHER SEVERITY

PREPARATORY MEASURES FOR RURAL FIRE PREVENTION

NATIONAL AUTHORITY OF CIVIL PROTECTION

Given the forecast of increasing weather severity for the next few days and the decision by the National Civil Protection Authority (CNPC) of the National Civil Protection Authority (CNOS) to raise the Special Alert Status of the Integrated (FIRE) for the RED LEVEL in the districts of Braga, Bragança, Guarda, Porto, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real and Viseu, the CNOS is undertaking the following operational anticipation measures:

1. Reinforcement of warning messages by District Relief Operations Commands (CDOS) to all district and municipal structures, with a view to strengthening surveillance and enhancing operational responsiveness;
2. Reinforcement of alert messages by CNOS to all national structures, with a view to strengthening surveillance and enhancing operational responsiveness;
3. Daily meetings of the operational and institutional coordination structures at the national and district level – National Operational Coordination Centre (CCON) and District Operational Coordination Centers (CCOD);
4. Operation of the following pre-positioning of operational response means:
5. Lisbon Forest Fires Reinforcement Group at the Vila Real Logistic Support Base, Vila Real;
6. Forest Fire Reinforcement Group of Lisbon at the Macedo de Cavaleiros Logistic Support Base, Bragança;
7. Forest Fire Reinforcement Group of Lisbon at the Albergaria Logistic Support Base, Aveiro;
8. Forest Fire Reinforcement Group of Porto at the Logistic Support Base of Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo; and.
9. Reinforcement of resources of operational response at the Logistics Support Base of Ourique, Beja;
10. Track Machines from the Institute of Nature Conservation and Forests in Guimarães (Braga), Trancoso (Guarda), Proença-a-Nova (Castelo Branco), Mangualde (Viseu), Mirandela (Bragança) and Loulé (Faro);
11. Armed Forces patrol teams distributed by districts in EAE Vermelho;
12. Reinforcement groups of the Intervention Group on Protection and Relief (GIPS) of the GNR and, Mirandela (Bragança), Viseu, Loulé (Faro) and Aveiro;
13. Strengthening groups of the Special Firefighters Force (FEB) in Guimarães (Braga), Trancoso (Guarda), Proença-a-Nova (Castelo Branco);
14. Fire Analysis and Use Teams (EAUF) of the Special Firefighters Force in Vila Real, Viseu and Estremoz;

• Recognition and Situation Assessment Team (ERAS) of the Firefighters Special Force in Santarém.

5. Preventive SMS sending, applicable to the districts in EAE Vermelho, with broadcasting beginning at 6:00 p.m 17^th August and the activation of the ANPC telephone hotline – 800 246 246 and 214 247 247 for overseas subscribers

This article is being shared as there are many British pensioners in Portugal and the advice is useful.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and The Pensions Regulator (TPR) are urging the public to be vigilant when receiving unsolicited offers about their pensions and to check who they are dealing with.

The FCA and TPR have launched a joint TV advertising campaign to raise awareness of pension scams and the most common tactics used by fraudsters.

This comes after figures show that a total of 253 victims reported to Action Fraud that they had lost more than £23 million to pension scammers in 2017, which equates to an average loss of £91,000 per victim.

Highly sophisticated scammers lure people into transferring their pensions into fraudulent schemes. Victims of pension scams can lose their life savings, and be left facing retirement with limited income.

The FCA and TPR are calling the public’s attention to the tactics used by pension scammers. One of the most common tactics is to offer a ‘free pension review’.

Cold calling is currently by far the most common method used to initiate pension fraud. Other scam tactics include:

• Unexpected contact about your pension via phone, post or email.
• Promises of guaranteed high returns and downplaying the risks.
• Offering unusual or overseas investments that aren’t regulated by the FCA e.g. overseas hotels, forestry, green energy schemes.
• Putting people under pressure to make a quick decision, for example with time-limited offers, and sending a courier round with paperwork to sign.

• Claiming to be able to unlock money from an individual’s pension (which is normally only possible from age 55).
• The FCA and TPR are urging the public to be ScamSmart with their pension and always check who they’re dealing with.

The regulators recommend four simple steps to protect yourself from pension scams:

• Reject unexpected pension offers whether made online, on social media or over the phone.
• Check who you’re dealing with before changing your pension arrangements – check the FCA Registeror call the FCA contact centre on 0800 111 6768 to see if the firm you are dealing with is authorised by the FCA.
• Don’t be rushed or pressured into making any decision about your pension.
• Consider getting impartial information and advice.
• If you think you’ve been a victim of a pension scam, report it. Visit ScamSmart to find out more.

SITUATION 12TH AUGUST 08.00 HRS

The fire has now been downgraded to “CONCLUSION” stage. This means that it “has been extinguished but there are still small pockets of combustion within the perimeter of what was the fire area”
Current strategy is pre-positioning of ground forces to tackle any re-ignitions quickly.
All main roads open but small undesignated roads may be closed due to fire damage
Number of personnel deployed is 1005 supported by 336 vehicles.

SAFETY ADVICE
• Visiting the towns – no problem, roads open. Towns are virtually business as usual. Including transportation services.
• Check your hotel booking in Monchique to see if hotel is open
• DO NOT enter burned areas, especially minor roads as these may not be safe.
• FIRE RISK EXTREME – Temperature is rising, humidity decreasing and moderate wind – NO lighting fires, smoking, or camp fires, or cooking on stoves in rural public areas. ZERO tolerance.
• Very safe to visit Algarve, but always wise to check fire risk and follow that.
The following contact numbers are available to help those in need.

FIRE RISK IN ENGLISH: http://www.ipma.pt/en/ambiente/risco.incendio/index.jsp
Road Traffic: call (+351) 808 201 855
Health issues: call (+351) 808 24 24 24
Social emergency: call (+351) 144
Animal safety and rescue – monchique@dgav.pt
Donation enquiries https://algarvefire.info/

UPDATE 20.00 hrs

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will visit this Saturday the areas affected by the Monchique fire.

UPDATE 17.00 hrs

The Fire at Monchique in currently in the resolution stage having been downgraded from active earlier this morning. Currently 1346 personnel, supported by 432 vehicles an7 aircraft/helicopters are deployed mainly to deal with re-ignitions.

A small fire has broken out at Barão de São Miguel at 16.55 hrs with 14 operatives and four support vehicles on site. concluded 20.00 hrs.

The prime minister arrived at Monchique to meet with the presidents of the Chambers of Monchique, Silves and Portimão. António Costa stated he will “take stock of the situation and see what response has to be given”, ensuring that “the priority now is to rebuild”.

Before joining the meeting, the prime minister spoke with the journalists and defended the work of Civil Protection and security forces, in particular as regards the evacuation of localities.

“The priority of priorities is the safeguarding of human life. There fact there was no loss of life is absolutely extraordinary, “he said.

As for what could have gone wrong, António Costa said that everything will be investigated and that it is “normal” to have inquiries and evaluations for “occurrences of this dimension”.

A working group coordinated by the mayor of Monchique will prepare a “program for the economic reorganization of the Sierra de Monchique”, announced the Prime Minister António Costa, at a press conference in Monchique.

The head of the Government announced that this working group, coordinated by the mayor Rui André, will involve the “neighbouring municipalities”, also affected by the fire, as well as public entities, namely the Regional Directorate of Agriculture and the ICNF.

UPDATE 10.00 hrs

The fire of Monchique was given as dominated moments ago. The last update of the Civil Protection website, made minutes ago, found that the fire is dominated and in resolution stage. This means that there is no danger of the fire spreading beyond the perimeter already reached.

On the ground, many 1371 operational media, supported by 442 vehicles, continue as well as track machines. Air resources are also already operating and should continue to provide assistance to the ground forces in the consolidation of this fire which, according to the latest data, has burned more than 27,000 hectares of mountains in the counties of Monchique, Silves, Portimão and Odemira.

This morning, in a new press conference, the Operational Commander responsible for fighting the fires in the Monchique stated there is “no significant risk of the fire leaving the area that has already affected”.

Still, there are still “a few hot spots” and there will be “relievements in the next few hours and even days” that the forces on the ground want to strike at once. At the same time, the day will be of consolidation of the work already done, of vigilance and aftermath.

“Although the fire is dominated, we will not cross our arms. We will keep all our energy and dedication, “assured Patrícia Gaspar.

Also, air assets will continue to assist in the operation, including a reconnaissance aircraft, which “identifies hot spots”, which gives valuable help to the Civil Protection command when it comes to positioning the media.

Meanwhile, while the whole area hit by the fire tries to return to normality possible, this morning only a section of EN266 between the Rasmalho and Monchique is closed. From the south, access to this village can be done by the road from Odelouca to the Alferce, by the road from Portimão to Casais and from there to Monchique, or even via Aljezur to Marmelete and Monchique.

PRESS RELEASE

The Faro District Civil Protection Commission (CDPC) met today for the third time since the Red Alert Special Status of the Integrated Protection and Relief Operations System (SIOPS) was declared for the Special program for Combating Rural Fire (DECIR), where the main objective was the monitoring of the situation, in this context, in the Algarve.

For this meeting, the Presidents of the Municipal Councils (CM), the municipalities affected by the fire that started in Monchique, namely Monchique, Portimão and Silves, as well as the President of CM de Loulé, whose municipality is in the area of interest of the theatre of operations.

The Regional Operational Commander (CODIS), a member of this Committee, gave an overview of the regional operational activity within DECIR, as well as the operational anticipation measures implemented in the Region, which are adjusted, at each moment, according to the forecasts.

In view of the high commitment of the Fire Brigade facilities in the Monchique fire, and as a measure of the replacement of the Initial Attack capacity (ITA), future ignitions were designed for the Algarve in addition to the following resources:

Three firefighting brigades (which are already pre-positioned);

• A medium bomber helicopter, for ATI, operating from the Air Media Center of Loulé.

After hearing CODIS, the District Civil Protection Commission decided:

• To reiterate solidarity to all those affected, in any way, by this fire;
• To reiterate the recognition of the work of all civil protection agents and cooperating entities involved in the fire in Monchique, Portimão and Silves, as well as their total availability;
• Reiterate full confidence in the field combat and civil protection device;
• To reaffirm confidence in the Regional Civil Protection System, in the involvement of Municipalities and other Civil Protection Agents, and to convey that the Algarve continues to be a safe region for residents and tourists.

The early evacuation in the current fires in Monchique have undoubtedly saved people’s lives