The fire that has been raging in Alto da Fóia, in Monchique, since 17:20, is "burning freely", as it is developing in an area where firefighters cannot access with land resources, he revealed to Sul Informação the 2nd commander Operational Relief Operations of the Algarve Abel Gomes.
This was the most complicated situation recorded this Saturday, around 19:30 pm, following "a widespread situation of fires" in the Serra de Monchique, that caused larger fires in Porto de Lagos (Portimão), in Caldas de Monchique and in Fóia, both in the municipality of Monchique.
«In the first phase, we had to walk behind the different fire spots, without being able to consolidate the extinction of any. Later, we defined three most critical points», revealed Abel Gomes.
Of these, Caldas de Monchique «was dominated around 17:50». "The one in Porto de Lagos was also dominated, but there was a violent re-ignition and it is currently with a front, which is yielding to the means of combat on the ground," said the 2nd commander Operational Relief Operations of the Algarve.
"In Alto da Fóia, the fire has a front and is burning freely and is being fought only by air, due to the impossibility of accessing it with land resources," added Abel Gomes.
At the moment, the fires are not threatening buildings and have consumed areas of forest, but also a forest stand of eucalyptus, near Porto de Lagos.
In the different fires that took place this afternoon in the Serra de Monchique, whose combat was faced in an integrated logic, 166 operatives, 41 vehicles, four air vehicles and three trailing machines were involved so far. On the ground are the fire brigades of the region, the Special Fire Force, Civil Protection elements from Monchique, Portimão and Silves, the GNR, Afolcelca (Soporcel group) and forest sappers.
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