The critical period of fires is here, which has led different Councils in the Algarve to launch special fire prevention programs. Castro Marim, Portimão and São Brás de Alportel announced the placement of their own teams on the ground and took measures to try to prevent fires in their territory, giving assistance to the fire-fighting device (DECIF) in the Algarve.
In 2016, the 1st of July was, indeed, the beginning of the fireworks season in the Algarve. The first day of the Charlie phase, the one that inspires the most care and during which there are more Civil Protection operational and means of prevention, ended up being marked by a large fire in Monchique.
On the same day, very close by, Portimão activated the Seasonal Detachment for the Defense of Forest Against Fire (DFCI) of Senhora do Verde (Mexilhoeira Grande), which allows «to reduce the arrival time to occurrences in the larger zone by about 10 minutes. danger of forest fire in the municipality of Portimão”, in the most critical period of the day, according to the Municipality of Portimão.
This unit, consisting of a forest fire-fighting vehicle and five firefighters, will be stationed, until 30 September, in the former primary school of Senhora do Verde, with the support of the Parish Council of Mexilhoeira Grande.
«At the Fire Department headquarters in Portimão, during the danger phase that deserves greater commitment of means and resources, another combat team, a logistical support team and a dedicated reconnaissance and situation assessment team will be maintained exclusively for forest fires», added the municipality of Portimo.
In São Brás de Alportel, fire prevention is «a priority seriously considered by the municipal executive», which this Saturday launched the Action Plan for the Prevention of Forest Fires for the summer 2016, «an ongoing work coordinated by the Municipal Civil Protection Office and Defense of the Forest, in close proximity to the Humanitarian Association of Voluntary Firefighters, the National Republican Guard and the Association of Forestry Producers of Serra do Caldeirão”, according to the São Brasense autarchy.
This action plan is made up of 15 main axes, which include cleaning curbs and improving paths, raising awareness campaigns, setting up fire fighting teams and pre-positioning a vehicle with the respective team in Serra do Caldeirão and for the operation of the Menta Watch Tower, 24 hours a day, guaranteed by the GNR, among others.
On the day he activated the plan, the executive of the São Brás de Alportel City Council met the new Municipal Operational Commander, Vítor Martins and marked the beginning of the protocol between the City Council and the Portuguese Army, «which guarantees the patrolling of the healthy territory. -brasense during the critical period that lasts until the end of September».
In Castro Marim, the only municipality in the region that does not have a Fire Brigade, it has been on the ground since the beginning of the month, a municipal forest intervention team.
This unit, made up of six elements, is equipped with a 4×4 vehicle with a first intervention kit and will develop actions for the conservation and enhancement of the natural and forest heritage, in order to improve the fire surveillance and detection system, strengthen supervision and ensure rapid and effective first action.
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