The fire that broke out this Monday in Perna Seca, near São Bartolomeu de Messines (Silves) is already "overwhelmed", after having led to the evacuation of 49 people, whose homes were threatened by the flames.
Richard Marques, operational relief commander, said that "the night work had the desired effect and went according to plan", the firefighters ended up being able to control the fire in the early hours of the day.
"The next few hours will be crucial to consolidate the extinction of the fire," he added.
In other words, on the ground there will still be men and resources, to ensure that there will be no relights, on a day when, despite everything, the weather forecasts a slight slowdown in the heat, with maximum temperatures around 30 to 33ºC. A helicopter is currently being used to assist with consolidation and aftermath operations.
Although 49 people were evacuated, "there were no injuries or major material damage, as only outbuildings and some ruins were burned." "No house was affected by the fire," guaranteed Richard Marques.
Of the people evacuated as a precaution, "41 were moved to relatives' homes, while the remaining eight are being monitored by Civil Protection."
In total, the fire that broke out yesterday, at 15 pm, and affected a “forest, pine and eucalyptus area, with mixed and dispersed populations”, was fought by 00 operators, 369 vehicles, including a dozen crawlers. Yesterday, while there was light, four aerial means were still used, one of which would later be diverted to a neighboring fire, in Almodôvar.
In fighting the fire, there were corporations from the districts of Faro and from Beja, as well as a reinforcement group from Lisbon.
This Tuesday, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere, nine of the 16 councils in the Algarve are at “very high” risk of fire, while one – Monchique – is at “maximum” risk.
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