Pedrogao Grande Rural fire 17th June 2017 | Safe Communities Portugal

Pedrógão Grande Rural Fire 17th June 2017

Major Incident Report

SITREP 1100 hrs 22^ND JUNE 2022

IN CONCLUSION

Following the in Pedrógão Grande fire which is now in the final stages of conclusion, the fire close-by in Góis, Combria was brought under control at 0741 hrs today Thursday 22nd June after five days of firefighting.

At the site are 1010 operational, supported by 284 vehicles. The units will remain and will be reinforced with four heavy aircraft – Canadair – and two heavy helicopters.

Air assets will “help consolidate and cool the perimeter of the fire,” Civil Protection operational commander Carlos Luís Tavares said in a statement to reporters at at 0800 hrs on Thursday.

In view of the high temperatures that are expected for the region, Carlos Luís Tavares estimates that “reactivations may happen”, and that is the reason to keep the current device on the ground. “We’re going to have a lot of work to consolidate the aftermath,” he said, noting that “the fire’s perimeter is too large.”

According to the official, about 20,000 hectares of forest will have been burned in the f in Góis fire.
Note:
For overseas tourists planning to travel in areas which may be affected by the fires please contact your respective Embassies for information. The complete list can be downloaded here:

SITREP 21^ST JUNE 2100 HRS

UNDER RESOLUTION

The fire that began on Saturday in Pedrógão Grande was eventually brought under control this afternoon, said operational commander Vítor Vaz Pinto.

“He stated that the fire has finished another phase, that is to say that the perimeter of the fire is consolidated and the fire is not spreading beyond the established perimeter.

Despite this, he said that the operation on the ground will be maintained and explained that the perimeter of the area affected is very large, is about 153 kms perimeter, i.e. a radius of approximately 37 kms. As at 2107 hrs there were currently 1207 operatives on the ground and 438 vehicles involved.

“We’re going to have some very complicated situations inside, but we’re sure the fire will not progress any more than that,” he said.

The fire at Góis, Combria, however, is still active attended by 1174 personnel, 413 vehicles and 9 aircraft.

Some 30 water-dropping aircraft have been battling the blazes, some operating under bilateral agreements with the Portuguese government and others as part of an EU co-operation agreement.

Planes from Spain, France, Italy and Morocco were among those helping to fight the fires.

SITREP 21^ST JUNE 2017

The Social Security Institute reported on 20th June the existence of individuals who are posing as Social Security staff in the area of Pedrógão Grande and Góis and are making false visits on behalf of the organisation. PLEASE SHARE so people are aware.

In a short press release, Social Security reports that “it is aware that there are situations of false visits by individuals on the ground who pretend to be Social Security technicians”, “despite the moment of misfortune experienced by the fires Of Pedrógão Grande and Góis “.

“Thus, the Social Security Institute warns the populations to check that the social security staff in the field are properly identified,” said the agency.

FAKE CHARITIES
Additionally Safe Communities Portugal advices the population that given international interest in this disaster, to be alert for bogus fund raising charities and activities who maybe collecting money and/or soliciting donations to victims of the fire – these could originate from overseas. Although there is no evidence of this so far, this follows similar warnings by authorities in the UK of fraud sites and activities in the aftermath of the London tower block fire. Check carefully that you are donating to a bona-fide organisation.
If you suspect fraudulent activities please contact the police or

SITREP 20^TH JUNE 2017

27 villages in Góis were evacuated due to the spreading of the fire that has been active since Saturday in the municipality, said the Secretary of State for Internal Administration Jorge Gomes, in statements to RTP. In Pedrógão, 13 villages were evacuated in the eastern zone of the fire.

The Secretary of State for Internal Administration said that measures are already being taken so that a tip of fire does not enter the municipality of Lousã, which “is very critical.”

According to the Secretary of State for Internal Administration, the fight against the fires in Góis already have a thousand operatives on the ground. There will also be a reinforcement of 40 Spanish operatives that arrive by land, and another 40 that will arrive by air.

As at 1714 hrs on 20th June, a total of 3102 fire fighters are deployed together with 1022 vehicles and 27 aircraft, fighting 55 fires, 13 which are active. Of these the two largest fires are Pedrogao Grande attended by 1215 fire fighters, 408 vehicles and 16 aircraft and Góis with 897 personnel, 308 vehicles and 8 aircraft.

PORTUGAL – BANK ACCOUNT OPENED FOR PEDROGÂO FIRE VICTIMS

A bank account has been opened by bank Caixa Geral de Depósitos bank for donations to be made for the victims of the Perdógão Grande fire. The bank itself made an initial donation of €50,000 to open the account.

The Portuguese Ministry of Internal Affairs is encouraging monetary donations that would be properly directed according to the needs of the displaced families:

Volunteer Firefighters Association/ASSOCIAÇÃO
PORTUGUESA DOS BOMBEIROS VOLUNTÁRIOS

Link: http://apbv.pt/site/wordpress/solideriedade

Meanwhile Home Affairs Minister Constança Urbano de Sousa has appealed to the nation to stop donating foodstuff.

Praising the “charitable wave” triggered by the calamity, Minster de Sousa nonetheless said the influx of goodwill in terms of food stuff was causing “logistical problems.”

NOTE: Please ensure that any organisation that you are donating money to is legitimate and engaged in fundraising activities for this incident. Beware of fraudsters claiming to raise money.

UPDATE: 19^th June 2017

Our condolences go to the firefighter who died putting his life at risk trying to save others in dealing with the terrible fires in the centre of Portugal.

The confirmation was given this afternoon by the president of the Fire Department, Jaime Marta Soares. The fire fighter, Gonçalo Conceição was 40 years old had been hospitalised at the Hospital of the University of Coimbra, after suffering third degree burns.

In addition there are now 135 people injured and six are in serious condition. With the death of a firefighter from Castanheira de Pêra, the number of fatalities of the fire in Pedrogão Grande rises to 63.

The fire that erupted on Saturday in Pedrógão Grande has so far caused 135 injured, including 121 civilians, 13 firefighters and a GNR military man, the president of INEM told Lusa.

Luís Meira indicated that of those injured, seven are in serious condition: including five volunteer firefighters and two civilians.

SITREP 19^TH JUNE 2017

More than 2,015 operatives, aided by 609 vehicles and 15 aircraft, fought, at 14.00 hrs today, four major fires in the districts of Leiria and Coimbra, according to Civil Protection data.

The biggest fire is located in the district of Pedrógão Grande, in the district of Leiria, which started on Saturday afternoon, and is being fought By 1,125 operations, 353 vehicles and 10 aerial means.

Also in the district of Leiria, the fire in the municipality of Alvaiázere, which started at 8:40 pm on Saturday, is still underway (evolving fire without limitation of area) and is mobilizing 115 firefighters and 36 vehicles.

In the district of Coimbra, two large fires are underway in the municipalities of Penela and Góis. The situation involving more resources is in Góis, with the fire that started at 3:00 pm on Saturday and is being fought by 598 firefighters, 170 vehicles and five aircraft.

In the municipality of Penela, the firefighting that takes place since 21:15 of Saturday involves 167 operatives, 50 vehicles and one aerial medium.

There are a number of smaller fires that have continued to break out during the day but most have are in a resolution stage or extinguished.

UPDATE 18^TH JUNE 2017

EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS FOR THE FIRES IN PORTUGAL

We have been informed by the ANPC that all enquiries concerning the fires by people trying to locate friends and relatives who may have been affected by the fires to contact the Embassies in Lisbon of the nationalities concerned.

As Sunday means that Embassies will be closed it is important to use Emergency numbers. Some of these are listed below and more will be added;

Australian Embassy: 00351 213 101 500 toll free 351 800 800 610
Belgium Embassy Lisbon: 00351 919 810 031
German Embassy Lisbon 00351 – 96 580 80 92 (or by text messaging).
Canada Embassy Lisbon: 21-316-4600
Spanish Embassy Lisbon: 00351 – 917 267 402
Finland Embassy Stockholm +46 867 667 00
French Embassy Lisbon: 00351 966 16 07 01
Dutch Embassy Lisbon: 00351 91 776 5306
Italian Embassy: 00351 919 523 500
Irish embassy: 00 351 213308200,
Russian embassy: 00351 91 594 03 05
USA Embassy: 00351-21-727-3300 or 351-21-094-2000 and press “0”
United Kingdom: (351) 213924000 press 1 for English and then 4)
For Portuguese nationals: contact ANPC Headquarters 00351 214 247100

The Social Security informs that, together with other entities, it has put in place centres where it provides direct psychological support, emergency, to people who need it at: the following locations:

In the locality of Avelar – football field
In the locality of Castanheira de Pera – to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Castanheira de Pera
In the locality of Figueiró dos Vinhos – Pavilhão Gimnodesportivo
In the locality of Pedrogão Grande – to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Pedrogão Grande
In the locality of Ansião – at the Volunteer Firefighters.

The National Social Emergency Line (LNES) can also be contacted through the number 144, free of charge, for information about these places where the support is being provided.

SITREP 18^TH JUNE 2017 0700 HRS

Our condolences go to the relatives and friends of the 61 persons (including four children) who have died in a huge forest fire in Leiria to the north east of Lisbon, as well as over 60 who have been injured including six firefighters. The death toll is expected to rise. PLEASE SHARE

IMPORTANT UPDATE 10.16 HRS. We have contacted ANPC and have requested whether any special telephone number has been set up so loved ones can enquire about missing relatives. They have informed us that all enquiries should be made through respective Embassies of the nationalities concerned. Enquiries can be directed at the ANPC national headquarters in Lisbon for Portuguese who may be missing on 214247100.

Concerning missing British nationals the area can contact the FCO Global Response Centre through the Embassy in Lisbon at (351) 213924000 press 1 for English and then 4 to be contacted to the centre.

A huge forest fire in central Portugal has killed 61 people and injured 60 others, most of them burning to death in their cars, the government said this morning (Sunday 18th June).

Several hundred firefighters and 160 vehicles were dispatched late on Saturday to tackle the blaze, which broke out in the afternoon in the municipality of Pedrogao Grande before spreading fast across several fronts. The Pedrógão Grande area is 50 km (30 miles) south-east of Coimbra, a UNESCO world heritage site and university town popular with tourists and international students.