Year: 2018

UPDATE – 10TH AUGUST 2018 – 0700 HRS

The seven-day fire in the Monchique mountain range has been “globally stabilized” and has no active fronts, said Patrícia Gaspar, second-in-command of the National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC). It is still classified as active, however.

The official casualty rate has been updated to 39 the number of injured resulting from the fire of Monchique, in the Algarve, of which 21 are firemen, registering only a serious injury.

As at 0700 hrs on 10th August 1379 operational personnel were deployed supported by 445 vehicles and one aircraft.

A total of 299 people have been displaced from their homes in Monchique, Portimão and Silves, a joint operation with Social Security, the Red Cross, INEM and other autthorities..

Apart 50 homes destroyed in Monchique, there is no news on the total number of properties damaged.

As at last night the fire had consumed approximately 27,000 hectares of land

Despite the fact that there are no fronts, “the fire is still active,” the Deputy National Operational Commander Patricia Gasper stressed “We will keep all the resources on the ground, supported by track machines and all our attention, to consolidate the hard work carried out during the day.

 

UPDATE – 9TH AUGUST 2018 – 2200 HRS

At the end of the seventh day, the fire of Monchique still dominates, but “it has been giving way.” Throughout this Thursday, the resources on the ground had to attack several reactivations, including one with greater intensity in the Herdade da Parra, in Silves.

Despite the fact that there are no fronts, “the fire is still active,” the Deputy National Operational Commander Patricia Gasper stressed “We will keep all the resources on the ground, supported by track machines and all our attention, to consolidate the hard work carried out during the day.

Reactions are the big risk right now. We are at a stage where we cannot neglect anything.

Throughout this Thursday, the main work of the forces that fight the flames was, moreover, to attack fires that rekindled in different points of Monchique and Silves. “At this moment we can say that we have no active fronts. What we have are hot spots and reactivations, which we have been fighting throughout the day and that we have managed to overcome. “

On a day that has gone well, it will be a night with much better conditions than the one before it. In addition to the drop in temperature, it is expected that “a relative humidity level of up to 80% and, fortunately, a reduction in the intensity of the wind”.

Even so, ‘tomorrow the risk of fire will remain high in this region’, so that there is no alleviation of the means of land and of the attention that is being given to the fire.

However, some of the people who have been evacuated from their homes have already returned and the others are about to return to their homes.

“We have started preparing people to return home today. We want to ensure that this process takes place in an orderly and safe manner.

Speaking to Antena 1, Rui André stated around 50 houses were totally or partially destroyed and around 10 million euros of damage. This is the first estimate by the mayor of Monchique of the damage caused by the fire

Earlier Jorge Botelho was hopeful that the fire of Monchique is in the right way to be controlled, but does not risk a prognosis for its aim.

We are hopeful that the situation will be resolved as soon as possible. What came out of this morning’s operational briefing is that things are somehow moving in the right direction. But they are not resolved and we have to be careful, “he said.

Wind, which has had “some influence” in the spread of fire in the Algarve, will begin to fall from Saturday, haccording to meteorologist Joana Sanches, of the Sea Portuguese Institute and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
POST 10.00 HRS

More than 100 people, including residents and tourists, were evacuated from their homes at night and at dawn in dozens of towns along the EN124 road between Silves and Messines due to the Monchique fire.

After a “quiet night,” in which Monchique’s fire-fighting strategy resulted, the attention of Civil Protection will now be concentrated on consolidating the work that has already been done, “very much based on heavy machinery”, that is, track machines.

Patrícia Gaspar, 2nd national operational commander of Civil Protection, who is coordinating the firefighting in the Algarve, made this statement this morning.

“Last night everything went smoothly. The conditions on the ground and weather facilitated the implementation of the strategy we had outlined, especially with regard to the consolidation of work in the entire area between São Marcos da Serra, São Bartolomeu de Messines and Silves, the area that had been affected yesterday afternoon by a reaction, which resulted in a large focus in this area.

The night was “calm and allowed the consolidation of the strategy and the work that was defined”.

Today, the weather conditions have changed, mainly the level of the expected maximum temperatures, that will reach between the 24 and 26 degrees. There will be “a reduction in relative humidity and we our worst opponent, the wind, which will blow moderately from the North, with gusts that could reach 50 kilometers per hour.”

In other words, ‘maximum attention’ remains necessary in order to avoid as much as possible reactivations of the fire, which are ‘a possibility, especially during the afternoon’. “We have to ensure the permanent monitoring of the entire perimeter, which already has a significant extension. We are talking about a perimeter with more than 100 kms, “revealed the 2nd national operational commander of Civil Protection.

To try to avoid re-emergence, firefighters and aircraft will also be joined by heavy machinery. “Track machines have done absolutely fundamental work in this fire. It is based on this strategy that we continue to operate on the ground, obviously in conjunction with all the Civil Protection agents “said Patrícia Gaspar.

Also on the ground are the Armed Forces, which are focusing “on the surveillance and aftermath of the already burnt areas, to continue the work that has already been done”.

Patrícia Gaspar also updated the number of injured, which rose to 36, although the only one is serious. Of these injured, 19 are firefighters, all of them with slight injuries. We are talking about smoke inhalation, exhaustion and minor sprains.

There have already been 23,478 hectares burned in the Monchique fire. Updated data from the European Union’s emergency satellite navigation system Copernicus revealed. Since yesterday more than 2000 hectares have burned in the municiplality of Silves.

There have been some drizzles of rain in Monchique and throughout the Serra area, as far as Sao Bartholomeu de Messines

“Our great adversary is the wind,” the commander said, admitting the possibility of reactivation this afternoon.
As at 14.00 hrs 1472 personnel, 466 vehicles and 15 aircraft/helicopters are deployed.

LATEST UPDATE  9TH AUGUST 0700 hrs

More than 100 people were evacuated during the night of Wednesday from more than a dozen villages in Silves and are staying overnight in a pavilion of the Escola EB 2,3 João de Deus.
The fire in the municipality of Silves reignited this Wednesday in the early afternoon in some of the areas where it had already passed, due to the intensity of the wind. Several localities were evacuated, such as Enxerim, Pedreira and Cumeada.

At 2245 hrs traffic was cut off at Estrada Nacional (EN) 266 between Portimão and Monchique. Also the 267 roads between Nave and Marmelete and São Marcos and Monchique and in EN124 between Silves and S. Bartolomeu de Messines, according to the authorities.
UPDATE 8TH AUGUST – 22.00 hrs

Civil Protection has appealed to the population to stay in safe places, admitting that the situation on the ground “is very complex.  “We do not expect an easy period,” said the second commander, Patrícia Gaspar.

According to the briefing made around 8:00 pm by her, “it is practically impossible to anticipate the behaviour of the fire and the effects of weather in the theatre of operations.”

At times the fire reached a speed superior to 2 kms per hour. “The fire has taken on extreme behaviour.

GNR has been evacuating the village of Enxerim in Silves since 18h45. This village is about 700 meters from the main roundabout of Silves.
During the night heavy machinery will be used to open up containment zones, in order to facilitate fire control tomorrow.

The fire is once again affecting the hillside of Fóia and in Meia Viana, where many means of combat, both terrestrial and aerial, are already operating. The fire that has reignited in Fóia is heading south.

Pedreira was evacuated due to safety reasons, due to the advance of the fire.

The Directorate-General for Health (DGS) warned that inhalation of fumes or chemicals and heat can cause damage to the airways and issued recommendations on how to act in these situations. To avoid the harmful effects of smoking exposure, the DGS advises people to stay inside buildings, stating that “it is the most effective way to prevent damage.
The GNR also called on the population to comply with the directions and guidelines of the authorities in case of evacuation due to the fires. “In the event of a preventive evacuation, at the direction of the authorities, people must comply with the instructions given and should never go back to an already evacuated area.

People should remain calm, assist children, elderly people with limitations of mobility and carry their pets. They should not waste time collecting unnecessary objects and, if possible, leaving the exterior lights of the house on, “the statement said. In addition disconnect gas  pipes and try to make sure the bottles are away from a possible source of flame.

The 26 Iberian lynxes of the breeding centre of Herdade da Santinha, in Silves, were removed from the site by the ICNF, due to the fire that is in the vicinity.

Feeding of animals that have been removed from the areas affected by the Monchique fire is being guaranteed by the Council. The Monchique Vet has provided support to both livestock and companion animals, ensuring that they do not lack essential goods.

The fire is once again affecting the hillside of Fóia and in Meia Viana, where many means of combat, both terrestrial and aerial, are already operating. The fire that has reignited in Fóia is heading south.

Pedreira was evacuated due to safety reasons, due to the advance of the fire.

 

 

 

UPDATE 8TH AUGUST 2018 – 17.00 HRS

We have received complaints that members of the media and other individuals are venturing close to fires and obstructing their work.

Some people get gratification from this and others for monetary reasons. DO NOT DO this or encourage this activity.

We are not publishing pictures of the fires to avoid encouraging such activity.

 

STATEMENT BY PRIME MINISTER – António Costa

The prime minister was in the weekly briefing of the National Authority of Civil Protection and stressed that “it still takes many days of work so that the fire of Monchique is totally extinct”.

Combat against the Monchique fire with “good progress” but still with two active fronts

There has been “good progress” and Monchique’s firefighting situation is, on Wednesday, “more stable than yesterday afternoon,” said Patrícia Gaspar, 2nd national commander of the National Civil Protection Authority. The new operative responsible for combating this fire said, however, that “they are likely to be reactivations, especially during the afternoon”, which will be dealt be stronger resources on the ground.

The following points were made:

We are faced with an extremely complex operation, it is obvious that there may be times when things do not run 100% as we would wish

There are two fronts that inspire more care, “one more active in the area of ​​the Fóia” in Monchique, and another in Silves, next to Pinheiro and Garrado and ” It will be in these two places that the greatest effort will be concentrated, at the operational level, but without forgetting the consolidation actions of the areas where the fire has already been dominated.

This is one of the ‘great challenges’ for today: ‘to consolidate all the work done since the beginning of the fire, namely yesterday and today’.

Another priority is toto ensure that reactivations are attacked in a strong way.

The 2nd National Commander stated “We were able to make good progress and have a more stable situation today than we did yesterday afternoon”.

The number of injured has increased slightly” from 30 to 32, one of them in serious condition.

Of those who were evacuated ahead of the fires and sent to, Also the settlements were evacuated by ahead of the fire and temporarily accommodated at Portimão Arena,  50 were able to return to their homes or are staying with relatives.

There are 181 people displaced due to the fire, as of Wednesday morning.

Additional Information

The territorial mapping, done through the European Union’s satellite navigation system Copernicus, shows that the area burned by the Monchique fire is already 23,100 hectares,

Currently, more than 1,400 operatives are on the ground and reinforcement of urban vehicles of the district of Lisbon are expected. Twelve aircraft are supporting the firefighting that began on Friday, early in the afternoon.

Those that maybe affected by the fires in its two main fronts Fóia” and Silves SHOULD PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE SITUATION AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE GNR AND OTHER AUTHORITIES IF DIRECTED TO EVACUATE. YOUR POSSESSIONS MAYBE REPLACEABLE, YOUR LIFE IS NOT. DO NOT RETURN TO YOUR HOME UNLESS IT IS DECLARED SAFE TO DO SO.

For those who maybe affected pay particular attention to prevention measures and self-protection. Fire service do their best but may not be able to arrive in time. Consider leaving if you feel your property maybe under threat.

Protection Advice: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/during-fires/

UPDATE 8^TH AUGUST 0800 hrs

The fire this morning affects the areas of Enxerim, Pinheiro and Garrado and Pedreira in Silves, after having consumed the slope and the top of the Fóia during the night, even threatening the antennas. There are also active hot spots in Caldas de Monchique and between Couples and Senhora do Verde (Monchique).

The strong wind that was felt all night did not let the firemen take advantage of the low temperature and some nocturnal humidity to put an end to the flames.

During the night, Rui André, the mayor of Monchique, said that a housing area on the hillside of Fóia had to be evacuated, while in Caldas, below, there are still “some hot spots”, where there have been re-settlements.

As for the situation in Silves, where there is a “very difficult front”, the fire evolved during the night in an area of ​​hills behind “a line of settlements”, “with a lot of population”, which, according to Rosa Palma,, reached the towns of Enxerim (which is less than two kms from the entrance of the city), Pedreira and Pinheiro e Garrado.

Meanwhile, a helicopter and two medium-sized Fireboss planes are in action this morning in the Silves area, while he expects the arrival of heavier aircraft, including the Spanish Canadair aircraft, which helped so much yesterday in Portimão, in the Rasmalho area.

Road cuts are N266, 267,124 and M502. Although Silves town itself is not affected there are road closed in the area with fires in the surrounding areas so it is advisable to avoid the Silves area.

 

0100 HRS

A joint effort of the firemen and the Special Firefighters, known as “canarinhos”, was instrumental in controlling the fire with the communication antennas installed in Fóia.

The flames, driven by the strong wind, “approached” the railings around the communications towers at the site. However, fire-fighting resources were positioned close by and acted quickly and in strength, preventing the flames from destroying the antennas.

Around one o’clock in the morning, the flames were controlled in that area, but they continued elsewhere in the Fóia mountain range,

 

UPDATE 21.30hrs

The Monchique fire still has two active fronts, one to the west, on the way to Casais, along the road to Marmelete, and another to the east, already in the municipality of Silves, Patrícia Gaspar, 2nd national commander of the National Protection Authority Civil and new operational commander for the fight against this fire said at 20.00 hrs..

According to the “strategy defined in operational terms”, the “great focus tonight” will be in the lines of the perimeter of the fire where we still have hot spots, we must consolidate. ”

The consolidation of the parts of that perimeter where work is already taking place more favourably, either with the use of the ground forces of the fire brigades or with the structured and organized reinforcement of the work of track machines.

She pointed out that this machinery does “very important work” in the “opening of containment bundles which reduce the spread of the fire, but also create conditions for the ground resources to enter”.

Despite the wind, we have some possibility of recovery here in suits of humidity, a factor that is favorable to us.” There is also a ‘drop in temperature’, which is already happening.

On the move from command of operations to a national level, Patrícia Gaspar assured that it was a “perfectly normal option” in operations with “some complexity”, which is “extending in time and space”, as is the case.

The importance of following instructions to ensure maximum protection. These are constantly being broadcast by the GNR, and they insist people do not return to their homes unless confirmed ok to do so by authorities.

The perimeter of the fire grew early this morning, with more fires activated by strong winds in unstable areas of high combustion and difficult access.

Electricity has been cut, 250 people have been evacuated from their homes as a precaution.  Civil Protection guarantees they have responded as best they can.

Weather conditions by Maria Joao Frada. IPMA – High risk due to strong winds.  South Districts in high alert.  Wind will continue until Thursday and by Friday slightly calmer. Temperatures will rise

 

PREVIOUS UPDATE 19.00 hrs

If you need any information concerning roads that maybe affected by the fires and road clsure please dial the GNR special number 808 201 855. At present the only roads closed are N266, N267 and M502.

The localities of Falacho and Falacho de Cima, a little more than two kms from the town of Silves, are being evacuated due to the proximity of the flames. There is no information of housing at risk, revealed the Mayor of Silves Rosa Palma.

According to the mayor the situation “was complicated on Monday night”, which led to the evacuation of isolated houses and population clusters. Since yesterday and throughout the night, the fire has been near Zebro de Cima

At around 1630 hrs on Tuesday, the fire burned in Marmelete area and is projected towards Portimão and Aljezur. The strong wind is hampering fire-fighting operations.

Communication cables have been burned or broken as a consequence of the fire in the zone surrounding to Fóia, where there are antennas of the various communication equipment.

The front of the fire of Monchique that entered the the municipality of Portimão at the end of the morning was contained in  Rasmalho.

The number of people requiring medical assistance resulting from the fires has risen to 95, of whom 66 are people who required on the spot assistance and 29 are injured, explained Faro’s Civil Protection commander, Abel Gomes.

Eduardo Cabrita Minister of Internal Administration took the opportunity to announce that the operations in the field has passed to the national command of the Civil Protection, due to the size of the fire and the resources involved. Patrícia Gaspar, Deputy National Operational commander will head this.

 

PROTECTION ADVICE FROM GNR

In a statement sent to newsrooms, the GNR therefore asks “please” the people to respect “the indications of the GNR military. They are there to help you. “In “case of preventive evacuation, people must comply with the instructions given and should not return until safe to do so. They should remain calm, assist children, elderly or family with mobility limitations and take their companion animals. ”

Also in relation to road traffic, it warns the authority to “never adopt risky actions, such as reversing the direction of travel on motorways, “which, it is recalled, happened recently in A2.

In emergency situations, “as the approach of the fire or the loss of visibility due to smoke”, drivers “must remain calm, turn on the hazard lights [the four blinkers] and immobilize the vehicles at a safe distance from the source of danger”. In addition, “they must immediately communicate with the authorities through 112 and leave the berm free for emergency vehicles to circulate.”

UPDATED 15.11 HRS

Patrícia Gaspar,  Deputy National Operational commander, is already on her way to Monchique to coordinate the operation on the ground, now that her administration has been nationwide.

Eduardo Cabrita Minister of Internal Administration took the opportunity to announce that the operations in the field pass to the national command of the Civil Protection,  due to the size of the fire and the resources involved.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) and the Judicial Police (PJ) are investigating the fire that broke out on Friday in the municipality of Monchique, Faro district, confirmed the two authorities.

“The Public Ministry of the DIAP [Department of Investigation and Criminal Action] of Faro will investigate the fires of Monchique, to determine its causes and its possible legal framework,” the Attorney General’s Office said in a written response to the questions placed by JN already yesterday.

GNR police have reinforced patrols along the Algarve’s A22 motorway as they are expecting smoke from the Monchique and Silves fires to greatly reduce visibility. The Minister of Internal Administration Eduardo Cabrita explained that the northerly wind would see coastal areas along the Algarve see increases in smoke and the A22 motorway may also be affected. Cabrita added that the current wind direction and speed is expected to last for the coming days.

Reports from residents of Monte Branco, on the edge of Silves town say that are fires in this area.

 

UPDATED 13:00 hrs

Several locations in the Sierra de Monchique are without mobile telecommunications, and operators are awaiting authorisation from Civil Protection to intervene on the ground and re-establish all communications, companies said today.

A total of 16 people were assisted, between 6:00 pm yesterday, 6 and 7:30 am today, at the Health Center of Monchique, said today the Regional Health Administration (ARS) Algarve.

In this Health Center, there is a team of nursing professionals from the Barlavento ACeS, which is supporting INEM in assisting the field operatives and the population. There was “no need to evacuate to another health facility so far,” says ARS.

A team of five nurses and a physician from the Windward ACeS were also moved to the Arena de Portimão to provide support to the 120 people who stayed there, keeping the team there.

In the Emergency Service of the Hospital University Center of Algarve (CHUA), between August 6 and 7, 15 people (fourteen in the Portimão unit and one in the Faro unit) were assisted, all with injuries light. All have already had high clinical.

ARS Algarve also provided a team of health professionals from the Monchique Health Center to assist, if necessary, the people who are in the EB 2,3 School in Monchique.

It also alerts the population to avoid inhalation of smoke as well as exposure to heat. For more information call SNS24: 808 24 24 24. In case of an emergency call 112,

 

SITREP  7TH AUGUST 2018 – 11.00 hrs

At a press conference this morning Vítor Vaz Pinto, operational commander of the Civil Protection gave the following information:

There are still six “hot spots” in the Monchique fire, but the areas of greatest concern today are south of Nave towards Casais and “the area of ​​the Odelouca dam

Air resources again have difficulty operating because of the great “turbulence.” There are ‘strong gusts, which cause operational constraints’. “We have difficulties in combat due to turbulence, which prevents the use of air in some circumstances.

However, he asserted, ‘it is not for lack of means that the extinction [of the fire] is not done sooner’.

That “the priority is to fight the fire, to safeguard the people”, urging everyone to “respect the guidelines of the authorities”, especially those who are involved in “withdrawing people” or “cutting roads to prevent people entering risk areas ‘.

There is a new fire front in the area between Casais and Monchique and it evolves along the Marmelete road, about one km from the Nave quarry. The residents of Lameiras are being withdrawn by the authorities as a precaution.

In Caldas de Monchique, there is fire with “great intensity,” which is 4 kms south of the town of Monchique.

This fire forced the closure of 266 National Road, GNR source told Lusa.

EDP ​​had to cut off electricity supplies in some areas of the Monchique fire for ‘safety issues’ and at the request of civil protection while putting generators in other locations.

There are also areas where there is no light because the poles have been destroyed by fire.

Over 20,000 hectares have been affected by the fires.

The fire has been hampered by the intensity and constant changes of direction of the wind and by the difficulty of access of the land to the land due to the dense vegetation.

The flames, which spread through several foci and fronts, with constant reactivations and projections, are being fought by almost 1237 operatives, supported by 389 vehicles and 17 aerial means, with difficulty in acting. These are six Fireboss aircraft, four Canadairs, four light / medium helicopters and one heavy helicopter. There is also a support plane. In Monchique there are already operatives from all over the country, from Viseu and Aveiro, as well as Spain

 

 

In view of the adverse weather conditions, the persistence of very hot and dry weather, favouring the outbreak and spread of rural fires, the following will apply:

• The Special Alert State (SEA) shall be extended to RED until August 7 at 23.59 hrs for the districts of Beja, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Portalegre;
• The Special Alert State (EAE), at the ORANGE level, until August 7 at 23.59 hrs, for the districts of Coimbra, Leiria, Lisbon, Santarém, Setúbal and Viseu;
• The Special Alert State (EAE), at YELLOW level, until August 7 at 23.59 pm, for the districts of Aveiro, Braga, Porto, Viana do Castelo and Vila Real.

These measures imply:

• Increasing monitoring actions and strengthening the readiness of the various entities involved in civil protection operations;
• The organization of entities for patrols, reconnaissance and surveillance in places historically more vulnerable to rural fires;
• The pre-positioning of combat resources as a condition for a more efficient and effective reaction to rural fires;
• The maintenance of measures of active prevention and operational planning by the Civil Protection Agents and other Cooperating Entities and Municipal Civil Protection Services.

Today’s operating situation, August 6, is as follows:

• Number of occurrences of rural fires (between 00:00 and 19:00): 58
• Number of operatives: 1660
• Number of vehicles: 429
•  Number of aircraft: 12

We highlight the data on the rural fire that is being fired in Monchique, Algarve, which began on August 3, Friday, and which, at this time, are as follows:

• Number of operatives: 1108
• Number of vehicles: 341
• Number of Track Machines: 23
• Number of aircraft: 13
• Number of entities involved: 16

The ANPC renews the warning to the population to take care of their safety, noting that the speed and violence of propagation of fires that occur with this type of meteorological conditions make this a threat to people and their propertys, given the extreme way in which they can occur.

For this reason, we call on citizens to keep themselves constantly informed about developments in the areas where they live or visit, to observe the advice and recommendations of the authorities in particular in the extreme situations of rural fires, to adapt their activities to the risk of fire rural areas, to comply with self-protection measures and only to evacuate the place where they are in conditions of absolute security.

Communication and Awareness Division

Jorge Dias | 965 160 096

Alcina Coutinho | 919 201 307

Monchique Fires – SITREP – 6^TH AUGUST 2018 22.00 hrs

The approximately 1,100 operational firefighters who began four days ago in Monchique have “a hard night ahead,” Abel Gomes, the second district operational commander of Civil Protection of Faro, in a briefing held at the EB 2,3 School in Monchique.

Around 20.00 hrs the most worrisome situations were the fronts on the hillside of Foia near the Odelouca Dam and the Silves Mountain Center and in the Sítio da Cascalheira, in Monchique. But at that time, the fire was also being fought at other points, particularly at the MacDonald Resort in Caldas de Monchique.

In the morning, the civil protection guarantee to have 95% of the fire controlled. Still, Abel Gomes recalled, he was told at the same time that there were “very sensitive areas, hot spots, which were not yet consolidated”.

It was precisely in these hot spots that the fire reignited and “with great intensity.” With the increase of the intensity of the wind, more evident from the afternoon, also happened fire projections, that complicated the combat strategy that was outlined.

This has forced once again to evacuate the population from some places, particularly from the three areas where the fire causes more concern, but also “in other small clusters”.

‘The situation remains very complex. This is a large fire, “summarized Abel Gomes

 

UPDATE 6^TH AUGUST 2018 18.00 hrs

Rui André Mayor of Monchique has expressed concern over fire front heading to Fóia and the other that progresses towards the Pedagogical Farm of Silves.

REMINDER: People living in fire front areas maybe asked to evacuate and should be particular attentive and following the directions of police and other authorities

To avoid further problems and for safety, people are being removed from the houses, accommodation units and restaurants on the Fóia road, namely next to the restaurants Teresinha and Luar da Fóia.

Rui André confirmed to the South Information that there were “several houses of first housing that burned” and there are displaced, although it is not yet known how many.

The 60 or so people who have been left without their homes or who cannot return to them are now being accommodated in the centre installed in EB 2,3 of Monchique and in Marmelete.

 

UPDATE 13.15 hrs

GOOD NEWS – 95% of the perimeter of the Monchique is “controlled,” but there are still “some hot spots” in the area that could lead to reignitions, said Víctor Vaz Pinto, from the Faro Operational Command Headquarters a few minutes ago.

The remaining 5% of the fire that is still not controlled is “in an area inaccessible by land” and “very dangerous”.

Jorge Botelho, chairman of Faro’s District Civil Protection Commission, said he was “confident of the force on the ground” to fight the fire.

At the moment, “15 to 20 thousand hectares” have already been burned.

 

EARLIER BULLETIN 10.30 hrs

Aircraft are not yet able to act in the Monchique fire due to the thick smoke hovering over the area, said District Deputy Commander Abel Gomes at the Civil Protection press conference at 0930 hrs on 6^th August 2018 in Monchique. He made the following points:

Commander Abel Gomes also revealed that, as of 12.00, the wind is expected to increase, which is a “worry” situation. “We will have an adverse weather, the intensity of the winds will increase”, towards São Marcos da Serra.

• In the Caldas de Monchique area was a “very sensitive situation”, with the media being “pre-positioned” after residents and tourists had been removed from these areas.
• The deputy commander said that for a stronger attack, “the possibility of air support is lacking,” as helicopters and airplanes can only begin to act “when the smoke dissipates.” “As the hours pass, we wait for the smoke to fade.”
• In spite of the two fronts the “situation is much more favourable than it was during the night”, although the “sensitive” situations continue. Progress had been made overnight. We are providing all our concern and attention”, in the fight against this fire, which has ‘a very large perimeter’.
• There was no concrete data on the “buildings affected”, not knowing if they are just “vacant houses” and “farm buildings”.
• Twenty-five people were injured during the dawn of Monday in the fire,
• An elderly woman, 72, is in critical condition and had to be transported by helicopter to the Hospital de Santa Maria in Lisbon. INEM has already registered 64 occurrences, with 44 people assisted (13 civilians and 31 civil protection agents).
• The operational subcommittee emphasized that “safeguarding human life is the greatest concern” of civil protection actors on the ground, although there have been “several defended houses”.
• At dawn, several localities and sites were evacuated for preventive measures: Caldas de Monchique, the urbanization of Montinho, the MacDonald hotel, Barranco do Banho, Monchicão (near the Odelouca stream).
• In the municipality of Portimão, the populations of the zone of Vale Boi and Rasmalho were withdrawn, since the flames follow along the road between Monchique and Portimão.
• Most of the displaced persons were taken to the EB 2,3 School in Monchique, while others were housed in the homes of relatives. At this moment, there are still no conditions for people to return home.
• The access roads to Monchique are almost all cut, either by the side of São Marcos da Serra and Alferce, or by the side of Portimão. In this case, the traffic is cut off at the roundabout of the Port of Lagos.
• As at 10.30 hrs a total of 1112 firefighters, 327 vehicles and 8 aircraft/helicopters were deployed

UK.Gov have issued the following travel advice to those intending to visit Monchique

A major forest fire in the area of Monchique, in the Algarve has been burning for 3 days. The fire has now reached the town of Monchique, and Portuguese authorities are evacuating affected areas of the town and surrounding areas. If you are in this area, follow the instructions of the Portuguese police and Civil Protection authorities. Civil Protection Portugal can be reached on 800 246 246 or www.prociv.pt. For your own safety, travel to the Monchique area is not advised under any circumstances until cleared by the Portuguese authorities.

If you need consular assistance, or you have concerns about family or friends in the area, please call (+351) 21 392 4000 or in the UK (+44) 207 008 1500.

Link:  https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal

 

 

Civil Protection Calls on Population to remain calm

Tonight at a press conference, the Civil Protection commander urged people to trust the authorities and to safeguard themselves.

The same source assumes that the fire went through Alferce, but that it was controlled and the people protected. They did the same in the village of Monchique to protect people.  ,There were however some houses and agricultural annexes affected by the fires in the zone of Fornalha a short distance from Alferce.

Note: There has been much speculation on social media regarding Monchique. People are advised TO LISTEN TO OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF THE AUTHORITIES.

Many were those who tried to resist the evacuation of the village for fear that their property would be compromised.  Civil Protection says that the priority is people. “There is no material more important than human life,” he said.  Concerning the possibility that some dwellings have been affected, the commander confirms that there may have been cases that have suffered fire damage.

The main front of the fire that has been in action for three and a half days in the Sierra de Monchique has reached the Odelouca dam and the firefighters will “be more able to fight it,” the National Civil Protection Authority said at a press conference tonight.

This point was made at a time when the flames are at the gates of the town of Monchique and confirmed Colonel Duarte Costa, the operational commander of the ANPC, “have passed through Alferce, which has always been protected”.

This village, moreover, was isolated for more than an hour, surrounded by the flames and with the cut road accesses.

The inhabitants of Portela do Vento were removed this this afternoon, at around 4:00 p.m., as a ‘precaution’.

Duarte Costa was confident that the operators on the ground will have better conditions to fight the fire, not only because of the barrier that the Odelouca dam represents, but also because of the prediction of a change in the weather, the 50% “and lower temperatures.

“I hope we can control this fire during the night, which has been going on for too long,” said the ANPC operational commander.

The same official added that the means continue to be reinforced in Monchique, being on the way to the Algarve more “five combat groups”, integrating elements of the special force of firemen, GNR and Armed Forces. There are also eight more track machines, which will join the 32 already there.

 

Civil Protection Calls on Population to remain calm

Civil Protection Commander calls on the population to remain calm and urged people to trust the authorities to safeguard themselves.

At National Headquarters,” the National Civil Protection Authority stated that the main front of the fire that has been spreading for three and a half days in the Sierra de Monchique has reached the Odelouca dam and the firefighters will “be more able to fight it said at a press conference tonight.

Duarte Costa National Operational Commander was confident that the operators on the ground will have better conditions to fight the fire, not only because of the barrier that the Odelouca dam represents, but also because of the prediction of a change in the weather, the 50% “and lower temperatures.

“I hope we can control this fire during the night, which has been going on for too long,” said the ANPC operational commander.

The same official added that the means continue to be reinforced in Monchique, being on the way to the Algarve more “five combat groups”, integrating elements of the special force of firemen, GNR and Armed Forces. There are also eight more track machines, which will join the 32 already there.

Considering that the flames have been on the doors of Monchique for about three hours , several buses have already been requisitioned, but that, with the favourable evolution of the fire, ‘it seems that they will not be necessary’ .

“Do not panic, listen to the recommendations of the civil protection agents,” advised the ANPC operational commander.

Note: There has been much speculation on social media regarding Monchique. People are advised TO LISTEN TO OFFICIAL STATEMENTS AND FOLLOW THE ADVICE OF THE AUTHORITIES.

Despite ensuring that the situation in Monchique and Alferce is “controlled”, Duarte Costa admitted that in the small housing settlements that were being evacuated during the afternoon, the houses “could have suffered from the fires.”

“We cannot do the perimeter defence of all the small localities, we are concentrating on the larger nuclei. The small clusters, from which the people were taken, may have suffered fire. But from what has been conveyed to me, most of Monchique is safeguarded and the population is protected, “he said.

Many were those who tried to resist the evacuation of the village for fear that their property would be compromised.  Civil Protection says that the priority is people. “There is no material more important than human life,” he said.  Concerning the possibility that some dwellings have been affected, the commander confirms that there may have been cases that have suffered fire damage.

The inhabitants of Portela do Vento were removed this this afternoon, at around 4:00 p.m., as a ‘precaution’.

The ANPC Press Release on the operational situation of this weekend (at this time), highlights the summary of the means involved in the rural fire of Monchique and a special appeal to the citizens to redouble the care to be taken in the use and enjoyment of forest areas.

In view of the adverse weather conditions, in hot and dry weather, which favour the outbreak and spread of rural fires, it was decided to maintain:

• The Special Alert Status (SEA), at RED level, until August 6 at 11:59 PM, for the Districts of Beja, Bragança, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisbon, Portalegre, Santarém, Setúbal and Viseu;
• The Special Alert State (EAE), at the ORANGE level, until August 6 at 11:59 PM, for the Districts of Aveiro, Braga, Porto, Viana do Castelo and Vila Real;

 

These measures imply:

• Increasing monitoring actions and strengthening the readiness of the various entities involved in civil protection operations;
• The organization of actions of patrolling, reconnaissance and surveillance in places historically more vulnerable to rural fires;
• The pre-positioning of combat means as a condition for a more efficient and effective reaction to rural fires;
• The maintenance of measures of active prevention and operational planning by the Civil Protection Agents and other Cooperating Entities and Municipal Civil Protection Services.

 

The operational situation of the last two days is as follows:

August 4, Saturday

• Number of occurrences of rural fires (between 00:00 and 24:00): 110
• Number of operatives: 3479
• Number of vehicles: 971
• Number of aircraft : 51

 

August 5, Sunday

• Number of occurrences of rural fires (between 00:00 and 24:00): 98
• Number of operations: 2230
• Number of vehicles: 556
• Number of aircraft: 49

 

We highlight the data referring to the rural fire of Monchique, Algarve, whose outbreak happened on August 3, Friday, and that, at this time, are the following:

• Number of operatiives: 810
• Number of vehicles: 226
• Number of track machines: 8
• Number of air tickets: 9
• Number of entities involved: 94

 

The ANPC renews the warning to the population to take care of their safety, remembering that the speed and violence of propagation of fires that occur with this type of meteorological conditions makes this type of occurrence a threat to the people and their assets, in the extreme way in which they can be developed.

For this reason, we call on citizens to keep themselves constantly informed about developments in the areas where they live or visit, to observe the advice and recommendations of the authorities in particular in the extreme situations of rural fires, to adapt the behaviour to the risk of fire rural areas, to comply with self-protection measures and only to evacuate the place where they are in conditions of absolute security.

The ANPC informs that by 21:30 on 5th August the CODIS of Faro, Vítor Vaz Pinto will make the operational situation on the fire of Monchique from the Basic School 2,3 of Monchique.

To your consideration.

Jorge Dias

Division boss

Communication and Awareness Division

Presidency