Madeira Rural Fire

 

Major event

Fire registered 14th August 2024

Current status: Under Control

Contacts:

Civil Protection Madeira: srpc@madeira.gov.pt   Tel:  291 700 110

PSP Madeira 291 208 400    GNR Madeira 291 214 460

Civil Protection App (for visitors and residents.)

Embassies in case of assistance: https://www.safecommunitiesportugal.com/emergency-contacts/

Psychological Support line provided by the SESARAM Psychology Service, with the number 969320140, and the SRS 24h support line, provided by the Family Support Office with the number 800 24 24 20.

Maps and charts

Copernicus Overview Map Madeira Fire at 1146 UTC 22nd August publish at 20.18 hrs

Copernicus Map of Madeira Fire . Active flames situation 21st August 11.53 hours

 

Day 9

 

UPDATES/SITREPS

Day 14

UPDATE: 0800 hrs 27th August 2024

This is the final post on this major incident page as the plan is deactivated today.

Fire in Madeira: Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Plan deactivated

The rural fire on the island of Madeira broke out on August 14 in the mountains of the municipality of Ribeira Brava, gradually spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol and Santana.

Madeira’s Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Plan ceases to be in force this Tuesday.

According to Civil Protection, the Regional Civil Protection Emergency Plan for the Region (PREPCRAM) will be “automatically deactivated” when the declaration of a state of calamity ends. The regional emergency plan had been activated on August 17.

The municipality of Ponta do Sol (the last to register an active fire), in a note sent to newsrooms, reported that the Municipal Civil Protection Emergency Plan has already been deactivated, as the fire was controlled and the alert situation revoked.

The rural fire on the island of Madeira broke out on August 14 in the mountains of the municipality of Ribeira Brava, gradually spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol and Santana.

On Monday, regional civil protection indicated that the fire “is completely extinguished”.

Regarding the other municipalities affected by the fire, the mayor of Câmara de Lobos, Leonel Silva, revealed to the Lusa news agency that the municipal emergency plan will remain in place for another fifteen days, but “only limited to the Fajã das Galinhas area”.

The mayor highlighted that the fajã continues to be in a critical situation due to the “dangerousness” of the escarpment, insisting on the “need to relocate” the inhabitants of the area.

 

 

Day 13

UPDATE: 1130 hrs

Fires: Fire “completely controlled” in Madeira

The fire that broke out on the island of Madeira on the 14th is “completely under control” and the teams from the mainland and the Azores that helped fight the flames will leave the region, said today the president of Madeira’s civil protection.

“I wouldn’t like to use the extinguished yet, at this point, because the fire was very large and there may still be some hot spots that could cause a rekindling that will probably be put out relatively easily,” said António Nunes, in statements to the Lusa news agency at 10:00.

According to the head of Madeira’s civil protection, the fire “is completely under control”, but as there are “some hot spots” what happened on Sunday could happen again, with a rekindling that “was easily put out, especially because it was in an area where everything around it had burned”

In any case, he added, the situation “does not require special care” and there is “no one specifically assigned to this purpose”.

According to António Nunes, at this stage the Rural Firefighting Teams (ECIR) are on the ground and, in addition to their normal activity, “will take additional care with these areas that burned”.

These are “the resources that were already there before the fire started and that will continue until November 30th” and that “are part of the rural fire-fighting teams that are on the ground as normal as every year”, he explained.

Regarding the teams that traveled from the mainland and the Azores to help fight the fire, the person in charge indicated that they will return to their origins from today.

The mainland will return on Air Force flights scheduled for late afternoon today and Tuesday, while the elements from the Azores will go on a civilian flight, he said.

“We are very grateful for their service and the help they gave us. They are now ready to return home,” he added.

Data from the European Forest Fire Information System indicate that more than 5,045 hectares of area have been burned.

 

Day 12

UPDATE 10.00 hrs 25th August 2024

Fire in Madeira “controlled and in the aftermath phase” but not yet classified as extinguished

Although the situation is under control, the fire cannot yet be considered extinguished and teams will remain vigilant on the ground to prevent possible re-ignitions, said the regional commander of Civil Protection, Antonio Nunes. It is “under control and in the aftermath phase”, with no active outbreak, but still with some hot spots.

“Right now, it is raining in the mountains”, so the fire is not expected to become active again, but there is always an unpredictability factor in fires, which requires permanent vigilance, he said.

According to the Regional Government, there are no reports of personal injuries or the destruction of houses and essential public infrastructures, although some small agricultural productions have been affected, in addition to forestry areas.

Data from the European Forest Fire Information System points to more than 5,045 hectares of burned area.

The Judiciary Police is investigating the causes of the fire

 

Day 11

UPDATE 1800 hrs 24th August 2024

Fire at Ponta do Sol should be put out soon

According to the president of Civil Protection, the fire is being fought only with foot vehicles, because it is occurring in an area under high-tension cables, a circumstance that prevents the use of aerial means.

“There is a hot spot that is a little active and we hope – be careful, I’m not saying it will happen – that within an hour, an hour and a half, we can put it out,” the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service, António Nunes, told Lusa news agency, in a contact made around 16:15.

“It is an active point, therefore, not everything is completely under control,” he reinforced.

António Nunes also said that the fire does not threaten homes. It is at a safe distance, there are no houses in danger,” he assured.

According to the president of Civil Protection, the fire is being fought only with foot vehicles, because it is occurring in an area under high-tension cables, a circumstance that prevents the use of aerial means.

“They [the team operating the helicopter] cannot go there and also because we consider that the ground resources that are there are sufficient to overcome that within the space of an hour”, said António Nunes.

 

UPDATE 1300 hrs 24th August 2024

Fighting this fire has been difficult by adverse weather conditions, including high temperatures, strong wind and low relative humidity. During the eleven days of combat, Madeira was under orange and yellow weather warnings due to the extreme heat.

It is important to note that there is no record of homes consumed by the flames, mourning victims, or destruction of essential infrastructure. We are aware that this whole situation has caused emotional damage and, from the very first hour, we have done everything to mitigate the impacts of this situation.

During the period of this fight, five firefighters needed medical assistance, due to indisposition, but all were discharged and returned to work.

From August 14 to 24, about 200 people had to temporarily leave their homes for safety reasons, but they have already returned, with the exception of the residents of Fajã das Galinhas. This situation is being assessed by the municipality of Camara de Lobos in collaboration with the regional government and soon a safer solution will be found for the 36 affected families.

The airways played a crucial role in fighting the flames, with the H-35 helicopter carrying out a total of 327 launches since the fire started. Canadair planes also contributed significantly, carrying out 26 landings on August 22 and 23. The air operations focused mainly on the areas of Ponta do Sol and Pico Ruivo, we emphasize that the effectiveness of the air means was maximized thanks to the coordinated work of the operatives on the ground.

During this period, approximately 1000 operatives, in a rotating regime, and 268 support vehicles were mobilized. According to the COPERNICUS system, the affected area covers about 5000 hectares.

UPDATE 1200 hrs 24th August 2024

Fire in Madeira is under control. Hot spots should be extinguished in the next few hours

There are still some hot spots, which the civil protection department intends to eliminate throughout the day. The fog has helped to control some areas, says António Nunes, president of the Madeira regional civil protection service. The fire is expected to be extinguished in the next few hours.

The night teams are being replaced and a helicopter will fly over the region to assess the situation.

The fact that today there is “100% humidity, dense fog” will be a “great help”.

The fire that broke out 10 days ago is now subsiding and according to the president of the regional civil protection service of Madeira, the fire may even be extinguished today.

During the day there should be some rekindlings, as is normal in this combat phase.

The regional commander of Civil Protection specified that the fire was controlled on Friday at the end of the day and that between 20:00 and 21:00 it was already “98% consolidated”.

According to the latest assessment by the European Forest Fire Information System (Copernicus), released on Friday evening, the area burned in the rural fire that raged on the island of Madeira reached 5,045.8 hectares that morning.

 

UPDATE 0645 hrs: 24th August 2024

The fire that raged in Madeira for 11 days is under control with only a few hotspots, although there may still be some small “normal” rekindlings, the regional commander of Civil Protection, António Nunes, told Lusa.

 There are still some hot spots and there may be some smaller rekindles, which is normal,” he said.

According to the official, the operatives are still on the ground to control the situation and prevent rekindling.

“We will now replace the night teams and a helicopter will fly over the region to assess, but we hope that it is over and that we can all go and rest, the teams are exhausted” , said António Nunes, adding that the fact that today there is “100% humidity, dense fog” will be a “great help”.

The regional commander of Civil Protection specified that the fire was controlled on Friday at the end of the day and that between 20:00 and 21:00 it was already “98% consolidated”.

According to the latest assessment made by the European Forest Fire Information System (Copernicus), released on Friday night, the area burned in the rural fire that raged on the island of Madeira that morning reached 5,045.8 hectares.

The fire broke out on August 14th, in the mountains of the municipality of Ribeira Brava, gradually spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol and, via Pico Ruivo, Santana.

Fighting the flames was hampered by wind and high temperatures, but there was no record of destruction of homes or essential infrastructure.

Some firefighters received treatment for exhaustion or minor injuries, but there were no other injuries.

 

DAY 10

UPDATE 22.00 hrs 23rd August 2024

SITREP SRPC, IP-RAM

On August 23rd in the theater of operations we had: 1 helicopter (H-35), two Canadair airplanes, more than a dozen vehicles and more than 110 operatives, from the fire departments of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, the Joint Operational Force (FOCON), volunteer firefighters from the Azores, elements of the GNR, ICNF and PSP, coordinated by elements assigned to the Regional Civil Protection Service.

The Canadair planes carried out 18 discharges in the active fronts in Pico Ruivo and Ponta do Sol (Lombada), totaling 26 discharges since the beginning of their arrival.

The helicopter (H-35) carried out a total of 327 discharges since August 14th, to support operatives in the direct fight against fire and today alone this aerial vehicle carried out 57 discharges.

It is important to highlight that the activity of the air means was complemented in the field by 110 firefighters who under difficult conditions carried out an excellent job fighting the fire.

Continuous and uninterrupted work is essential to contain the spread of the flames.

They are courageous people who face the force of fire daily with the main objective of protecting the population, their assets and our heritage.

Today it is important to highlight the role of the volunteers from the Madeira Delegation of the Portuguese Red Cross who have carried out the emergency calls in the Region, freeing firefighters to the fight of the fire.

 

UPDATE: 20.45 hrs 23rd August 2024

Following the declaration of a state of emergency in the municipality of Ribeira Brava, determined by the Regional Government Council Resolution No. 634/24 of 19 August in view of the active forest fires in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, the Municipality of Ribeira Brava informs that events requiring the presence of members of the Fire Department and the PSP or other Civil Protection elements are cancelled while the aforementioned resolution is in force.

Therefore, all security forces, fire departments and Civil Protection will be fully dedicated and committed to fighting the large-scale fire that has been ravaging the Region in recent days.

The local authority asks for everyone’s understanding at this delicate time, but safeguarding human lives and material assets is a priority, which is why this decision is made in the name of the population’s safety.

 

UPDATE: 1800 hrs 23rd August 2024

Fire rages in Ponta do Sol in area closest to homes

The fire that has been raging in Madeira for 10 days is still active in Lombada, in the municipality of Ponta do Sol, “in an area closer to the houses”, said the mayor this Friday. She considered, however, that there are sufficient resources close to the houses.

“Where it is burning with some intensity is on the Lombada side, in an area closer to the houses, but, as I have always said, […] in the surroundings of the houses the vehicles were even parked close to the houses because it is on this slope that the fire is being fought”, said Célia Pessegueiro, in statements to the Lusa news agency, around 4 pm.

If the flames spread closer to homes, “any intervention is relatively easy”, assured the mayor, considering that there are “enough resources” on the ground.

“In case of need and to safeguard people’s homes and property, it is possible to move all the resources allocated to that site to the homes”, he reinforced.

The firefighters are right next to the last house on the site, the houses are all next to the road, so the intervention is very quick and I am convinced that it will not reach the houses“, said Célia Pessegueiro.

 

UPDATE 1200 hrs 23rd August 2024

At the end of the morning this Friday, in Pico do Areeiro, the president of the Regional Government of Madeira, Miguel Albuquerque, pointed to “a much more favourable picture” in the fight against the flames, placing emphasis on vigilance. We follow here, minute by minute, the evolution of the situation.

Speaking to journalists at Pico do Areeiro, the president of the Regional Government of Madeira said that the Canadair planes dropped four bombs during the morning: “Two near Pico da Torre and Pico Ruivo and two in the upper area of ​​Lombada to cool the terrain”.

“At the moment, the situation is calmer. The north wind is also favourable at the moment, as you can see there is a cooling. The idea is to maintain our strength in the coming days”, said the Madeiran governor.

“Firefighters are still in strategic areas to prevent rekindling. We are cleaning the roads and here, in this area, we will maintain surveillance to ensure that the fire does not spread, especially in this area, which is what remains,” he added.

Regarding the technical issues that yesterday made it impossible to refill water on aircraft arriving from Malaga, António Nunes guarantees that they have now been overcome.

“We managed to overcome all the technical issues that made it impossible to refuel aircraft (…) aircraft take five minutes to refuel from the moment they land until they take off, it is a process that is as quick as any other”, he assured.

The fire raging in Madeira continues this morning in the central mountain range of the island, but for now Civil Protection considers that “the necessary means” are fighting the fire .

“This is an assessment that is being made on a case-by-case basis and we hope that [more Canadair planes] will not be needed (…) For now, we believe that we have the appropriate means to deal with the problem that is currently in force”, the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC) assured SIC.

 

UPDATE 0800 hrs 23rd August 2024

The fire raging in Madeira continued to rage this Friday morning in the island’s central mountain range, while in the municipality of Ponta do Sol there was an improvement in one of the flanks of the fire, a source from civil protection told Lusa.

“Starting in the southern part in the Ponta do Sol area, because the news is good, that front has two flanks, the western flank is circumscribed, but we keep personnel on site because there have already been several rekindles”, the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service (SRPC) told Lusa.

 

Photo: Lusa/ Homen de Gouvel

According to António Nunes, one of the flanks is still active, more or less like on Thursday, without major developments and in a moderate way.

“We are there with our staff to maintain surveillance. These are all areas where it is not possible to intervene, very steep areas where staff cannot intervene,” he said.

Regarding the island’s central mountain range, António Nunes indicated that the action on Thursday of the two Canadair planes together with the helicopter apparently helped to contain the fire’s evolution.

“This fire was beginning to descend towards Fajã da Nogueira, however, north of Caldeirão Verde, Santana, there is an active focus and it is in these areas from 08:30, when the Canadair can take off, that we will focus the action to see what they can do”, he said.

During the afternoon of Thursday, the two Canadair planes, requested by the Portuguese Government from the European Union, have already dropped fires on the fires burning in Madeira, complementing the action of the SRPC helicopter, the only aerial resource available to the Madeira archipelago.

According to António Nunes, in Ponta do Sol the news is good, but in Pico Ruivo and Pico do Gato there seems to have been a substitution from one place to another.

“It went from the east to the north, but the north is already a little bit entering the laurissilva [forest] and has a much slower progression due to the type of vegetation and we hope to have more success in the north,” he said.

The president of the Regional Civil Protection Service also said that at 7:30 am there were around 60 to 70 elements on the ground divided between the two fronts.

 

UPDATE 2100 hrs 22nd August 2024

On the ground, more than 120 operatives and more than a dozen means, from all fire departments of RAM, Azores Fire Brigade and Special Civil Protection Force are mobilized.

This fire fight was on August 22 with performance by 1. Canadair planes and helicopter turn.

Remember that the shipment of air means to Madeira was carried out under the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism.

The Canadair planes concentrated their action in the fight against the existing fire in the Central Range and made 8 landings with a positive impact on reducing the intensity of the fire.

In addition, today alone, the helicopter carried out 35 launches focusing mainly on the hardest to access and with the highest risk of spreading, in the two theatres of operation.

In Ponta do Sol, the fire remains confined to high areas, away from residential areas, and ground operatives continue with the goal of controlling the spread of fire and defending dwellings.

The SRPC, IP-RAM continues to monitor the situation and coordinate efforts to maximize the effectiveness of combat, ensuring the safety of populations and teams on the ground.

UPDATE: 2020 hrs 22nd August 2024

Government monitors fire in Madeira that “should concern the whole country”

The Government said today that it is monitoring the situation of the “intense and extensive” fire in Madeira, which should “concern the entire country”, but, like the regional executive, it stresses that there are no victims, nor homes or critical infrastructures affected.

At today’s Council of Ministers press conference, the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, stated that “the Government of the Republic has been in permanent contact with the regional Government, which has the responsibility for operational coordination”. It added that it “has been monitoring” the situation, “providing support”, referring to the 150 operatives sent from the mainland to the autonomous region to reinforce the fight against the fire.

“The loss of natural life, loss of natural capital, naturally concerns us and is regrettable. On the other hand, as of today, at this time, there have been no reports of loss of human life, homes or critical infrastructure. Within something that is always regrettable and a natural tragedy, the absence of human victims and loss of homes is a fact that lessens this distress”, stressed the minister.

Permanent monitoring by the Government of the Republic has taken place at “various levels”, from heads of Government to ministers and regional secretaries or even operational structures, he explained.

Regarding the activation of the European civil protection mechanism, Leitão Amaro said that “it was activated when the regional authorities understood that strategically and tactically it was the right time”. He clarified that the use of two Canadair planes, already in operation in Madeira, coming from Spain, instead of using national air resources, has to do with the capacity and flight autonomy of Spanish aircraft.

“While the Spanish Canadairs can fly from Malaga, where they were, to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, where they are now, making stops, I think in the Canary Islands, I’m not sure, [but] always flying, so on a quick journey. In the case of the Portuguese Canadairs, which have another model, with a shorter flight range, they would have to be transported by a ferry or a cargo plane, which would take at least three days”, explained the minister.

Leitão Amaro stressed that in previous fires, such as the one that destroyed the Ponta Delgada hospital in the Azores in May, the Government “has already demonstrated (…) full solidarity with the autonomous regions”, having approved support measures for the region to deal with the tragedy that occurred there”.

“We will always continue in the same spirit, with closeness and permanent support,” he said.

The fire on the island of Madeira broke out on August 14, in the mountains of the municipality of Ribeira Brava, gradually spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol and, via Pico Ruivo, Santana.

 

UPDATE 1730 hrs 22nd August 2024

Comment

Very challenging for the pilots. Lots of smoke around narrow valleys and high peaks!. Wind as well?

 

UPDATE 1400 hrs 22nd August

The fire in Madeira worsened last night. At Pico das Torres, the flames destroyed a slope inaccessible to the operators.

Firefighters are trying to protect the Laurissilva forest and prevent the fire from approaching the hydroelectric plant.

The two Canadair firefighting planes were requested by the Portuguese Government from the European Union, within the scope of the European Civil Protection Mechanism. They are already in Porto Santo and should enter into operation today, indicated the regional executive.

“In the next few hours, all the logistics inherent to the beginning of its activity in fighting fires in Madeira will be triggered, with the main focus on the central mountain range”. This is stated in a note issued by the Regional Secretariat for Health and Civil Protection.

The two Canadair planes, coming from Malaga, Spain, landed in Porto Santo at around 12:00. There they will be supplied with drinking water, from the airport’s fire hydrants.

In the note, the Secretariat of Health and Civil Protection indicates that at 12:00 the fire was still active, in the municipality of Santana. Also in the central mountain range (Pico Ruivo and Pico do Gado) and in the high areas of the municipality of Ponta do Sol (Lombada).

“There are more than a dozen resources on the ground, including air support [helicopter] and more than 125 operational personnel. These comprise of members of all fire brigades in the RAM [Autonomous Region of Madeira], the Azores Fire Department and the Special Civil Protection Force,”.

In Ponta do Sol, where the Special Civil Protection Force is concentrated, the fire remains in the high areas “far from residential areas”.

“In the focus between Pico Ruivo and Pico do Gado, the active front is branching out with little intensity and remains in an area of ​​difficult access”, explains the Regional Secretariat. It added that more than a dozen men from the fire brigades of Santana and Santa Cruz are deployed in this theatre of operations.

The aerial environment concentrates activity in this location.

 

UPDATE 1200 hrs 22nd August

Two Canadair aircraft to fight fires have arrived in Porto Santo

The two Canadair planes that will be used to fight the fires raging in Madeira have already arrived in Porto Santo. Separated by a few minutes, the aircraft arrived at the golden island, from where they will continue to fight the fires.

Also on the way to Porto Santo Airport from Malaga is a C-295 from the Spanish Air Force. It is carrying a team that will provide technical and operational support to the two Canadairs.

The arrival of these aircraft comes as part of the activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism, with the planes coming from Malaga, in Spain.

“In response to Portugal’s request for assistance to combat the severe forest fires in Madeira since yesterday [Wednesday] night, we are coordinating the deployment of two firefighting aircraft from the EU’s strategic reserve in Spain,” announced European Commissioner Janez Lenarcic today in a post on the social network X.

Note: This is the first time that these Canadair aircraft have been deployed in Madeira.

 

UPDATE 0800 HRS 22^nd AUGUST

Interviewed on Thursday’s edition of Bom Dia Portugal, the president of Madeira’s Civil Protection, António Nunes, said that, in addition to the Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo fronts, the Ponta do Sol front remains active.

“It is progressing halfway up the slope, an area inaccessible to firefighters. All we have to do is monitor the upper part of the river and let the fire progress to a lower area, so that we can intervene”, he explained.

On the other fire fronts, the official also indicated, there were, during the night, “some less pleasant developments”. “On the eastern slope of Pico das Torres, the fire has progressed significantly, and is moving down the slope in an inaccessible area, towards Fajã das Nogueiras, the hydroelectric power station”.

“We will assess the situation in the morning, using aerial means, to try to put out this eastern aspect. In the northern area, the fire has also progressed somewhat, and is descending towards Caldeirão do Inferno, now within the Laurissilva, which is causing us some delay in its progression, due to the type of forest.”

The official expressed the expectation that the Canadair aircraft provided by Spain will be able to speed up the fight against the fire. “We can use fresh water, but we will have to see what the weather and wind conditions are like,” he stressed.

Copernicus Delineation Monitoring Map published 1731 hrs 21st August updated as at 11.31 hrs

LATEST UPDATE 2100 hrs 21st AUGUST 2024

SRPC, IP-RAM Press Release

The fire started on August 14th is still active, with focuses on Ponta do Sol (Lombada) and the central range, between the high areas of Curral das Nun and Pico Ruivo.

The fire that broke out eight days ago on the island of Madeira continues with “two active fire fronts”. It has evolved into the central mountain range, and is being fought by 140 operatives, said the president of the regional executive.

“[The fire] evolved from Pico do Cardo, the high area of ​​Curral [das Freiras], to the central mountain range, which means that we have a front at Pico das Torres, in an area that is very difficult to access. EWe have another front at Pico Ruivo”, in the municipality of Santana, stated Miguel Albuquerque, at a press conference to assess the operations, in Funchal.

The President of the Regional Government explained that, at this moment, the objective “is to contain the downward evolution of the fire towards Curral das Freiras”, in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, where “a containment strip was created, and also to prevent the fire from evolving laterally towards Pico do Areeiro”.

Regarding the Pico Ruivo front, the regional government official added that “containment strips” are being created and a combat force is being concentrated “at the base of the mountain range, in order to prevent this front from advancing downwards towards the Vale da Fajã da Nogueira”. Here there is a hydroelectric power station is located, a “fundamental infrastructure”.

Miguel Albuquerque said that there are 140 operatives in the “theatre of operations”, supported by 30 vehicles, and that the helicopter continues to operate. It has already carried out “170 discharges” since the start of the fire and completed 35 hours of flight”.

Today, August 21, we registered the reinforcement of the Special Civil Protection Force with the arrival of more than 60 firefighters in Madeira at 17h00. From this moment, this force will integrate the 151 operatives in the fight against the fires in Madeira.

In the theatre of operations, firefighters remain tirelessly on the ground to stop the flames from developing and avoid approaching dwellings. In the face of the fire evolving into the Central Range, an area difficult to access for combat, the Regional Civil Protection Service has contacted the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) in order to, together, identify a more efficient solution to this fire.

After an exchange of some technical information between entities, two Canadair planes have been requested to be sent to deal with this fire specifically. In response to this request, ANEPC has activated the European mechanism to send the two Canadair planes to Madeira.

We reiterate that, fortunately, during this fire, there are no houses consumed, we have no mourning victims, and there is no record of destruction of essential infrastructure. We are aware that this whole situation has caused emotional damage and, from the very first hour, we have done everything to mitigate the impacts of this situation.

The SRPC, IP-RAM, continues to closely monitor the evolution of fires and reiterates its appeal to the population to avoid traveling to the affected areas. This is for their safety and to ensure a more effective and safer combat operation for the teams on the ground.

 

The fire that started on August 14 is still active, with two fires in the higher areas of Ponta do Sol (Lombada) and the other in the central Cordilheira (between the higher areas of Curral das Nun and Pico Ruivo), where on the ground there are more than 30 vehicles and More than 100 operatives, including members of the Special Civil Protection Force and Azores firefighters.

In Corral das Nuns, the fire, which was active until yesterday, August 20th, was declared extinguished.

Crews remain on the ground to carry out active surveillance and prevent any backfire.

In Ponta do Sol, professionals remain on the ground to contain the progress of the flames and keep the fire from approaching dwellings.

The most worrying focus is now on the central range area between the highlands of the Curral das nuns and the Red Peak, where the fire is consuming an increasingly larger area in hard-to-reach areas, making fighting the fire more difficult.

Over the next few hours, elements of the Civil Protection Special Force and airspace will be concentrating in this area to stop the fire.

In addition to the fire brigade, elements from the Regional Relief Operations Command (CROS), the Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (IFCN), the GNR and the PSP continue to provide continuous support to the operations.

In the face of evolution, the Regional Civil Protection Service has requested the ANEPC for a reinforcement of elements of the Special Civil Protection Force. The logistics associated with this displacement are already being taken care of and these men should arrive in Madeira at the end of the day today.

In relation to the firefighters who received clinical assistance yesterday, August 20th at the Nelio Mendoza Hospital, we inform you that they have already been discharged.

The SRPC, IP-RAM continues to closely monitor the evolution of fires and reiterates its appeal to the population to avoid traveling to the affected areas, for their safety and to ensure a more effective and safer combat operation for the teams on the ground.

We reiterate our gratitude to all elements and entities involved in fighting this fire.

 

The flames continue to consume the scrubland on the island of Madeira, but this Tuesday the operators are counting on an ally: the weather. There are still several fires that, by the end of the day, may be under control, admits the local president of the Regional Civil Protection Service

The fire that has been raging on Madeira Island since Wednesday continues with several active fronts in difficult-to-access areas, in three municipalities, however the flames have lost intensity, indicated the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service.

Speaking to the media late Tuesday morning, António Nunes revealed that “the most complicated situation in the region” is in Curral das Feiras where, due to the topography of the location, land transport is unable to operate. “It is impossible to fight the fire here by land means,” he stressed.

The resources are concentrated in the municipalities of Ribeira Brava, where there are two fire outbreaks (Furna and Encumeada); Ponta do Sol, also with two outbreaks (Lombada and Canhas); and Câmara de Lobos, where the fire is raging in an inaccessible area at Pico Furão.

In Encumeada and Ponta do Sol, he estimated that the flames should lose intensity by the end of the day. At 11:30, the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service revealed that a total of 80 firefighters, supported by 22 vehicles, were fighting the flames on the island of Madeira.

“The number of vehicles is not very significant because we are unable to take the vehicles to the locations. Even men have a lot of difficulty getting around because the places are very complicated and inaccessible,” he stressed.

He regretted, however, that in certain places, firefighters had to “let the fire spread to an area where it was possible to fight” the flames. He also revealed that the Laurissilva Forest “has not yet been affected”:

“What has been burning is heather, scrubland, gorse, all low vegetation. There is still no significant threat to the Laurissilva and to what is a World Heritage Site.”

In Paúl da Serra, Encumeada, Lombada and Canhas, where the fire is still raging, the situation “is under control”, he revealed, and, if by the end of the day “everything goes as planned”, the situation should be under control.

The weather is helping the operators, as, unlike previous days, the wind is not hindering operations and the temperature has dropped “two or three degrees”.

“As much as it may cost, and I will emphasize this, there are no situations here in which we can do anything other than wait for it to burn to a place where it is accessible so that we can fight it,” reiterated the president.

 

Update 09:00 August 20th – Fire with 5 active fronts:

•Curral das Freiras: Fire with strong intensity progressing to the East (Pico do Areeiro) and Southeast (Fajã dos Cardos);

•Encumeada: Front going up to the Serra, with low intensity;

•Quintinha da Lombada: Front progressing towards the South, approaching houses, with weak intensity;

•Furna: Front progressing towards the South, approaching homes, with weak intensity;

•Canhas: Front progressing with weak intensity towards a location without land access.

Other information:

•The following means are mobilized for this fire: 74 operatives, 21 vehicles and 1helicopter

•Activated the Madeira Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Plan and Câmara de Lobos Municipal Emergency Plan

•COPERNICUS System activated https://rapidmapping.emergency.copernicus.eu/EMSR748/reporting?

•4 municipalities affected by the fire: Ribeira Grande, Câmara de Lobos, São Vicente and Ponta do Sol

•Burned Area (COPERNICUS data at 21:46 yesterday): 3433 hectares

Burned Area based on COPERNICUS data (red area) and Hot Spot progression (MODIS/VIIRS)

Thank you at @meteorologiaclimaeambiente

The fire in the Serra de Água mountains, in the Madeiran municipality of Ribeira Brava, is in conclusion and the people evacuated on Sunday have returned to their homes. “The fire is in conclusion, there are no active fronts to be seen and the situation is now under surveillance”, stated Albertina Ferreira said the president of the local parish council.”

The satellite images made available by NASA show the reality of the enormous area already burned.

According to the scale, light colors are where the fire has been for the longest time, might still be active and red colors are the most recent fires, active.

The image from 23h00 yesterday still showed areas burning to the west, and an extensive column of smoke, but fortunately the most recent image no longer shows red colors, meaning the fire may no longer be spreading and reaching a resolution state!

In yesterday’s images, a huge column of smoke pushed by strong NE winds is also clearly visible.

Thank you at #meteolitoral

The fire has 3 active fronts in the areas of Jardim da Serra, Encumeada and Curral das Freiras, with evolution north, to a hard-to-access, uninhabited area, in the case of Serra de Agua.

5000 hectares of land have already been consumed. The fire has already consumed 5.6% of the island in four days

200 people evacuated since Wednesday. 20 to be evacuated from Serra de Água

Trails in the Rabaçal area closed due to fires

Access to Paul da Serra via regional road (ER) has been closed to traffic

Forestry Institute advises against driving in mountainous areas of Madeira Island

76 Firefighters from mainland Portugal

Resources deployed 120 supported by 43 vehicles

The Government of the Azores will provide 15 firefighters to help fight the fire in Madeira,

Access to Paul da Serra via regional road (ER) has been closed to traffic (including GNR from mainland). Many other roads closed or restrictions

Strong winds and hot weather led the IPMA) to place all regions of Madeira Island under an orange warning.

Copernicus IFFS Map shows active areas and burned area.

UPDATE: 22.25 hrs 17th August 

Day 4