The fire started in a pasture area, but quickly spread to vehicles in the rent-a-car Zitauto, which were parked, in a warehouse, in a land behind the Regional Directorate of Agriculture, in Patacão (Faro). Within minutes, 40 cars were affected by the flames.
Jorge Perestrelo, who works at the Regional Directorate of Agriculture, saw the start of the fire and told journalists that it started with «a small flame in the pasture», it changed to «smoke and flames» and, «when I arrived at the scene, ten minutes later, you could already hear bursts in the cars».
According to this witness, that parking lot is only used during the low season and, “in summer, it is completely empty of cars”.
But for now it wasn't there yet and the fire caused considerable damage to the rent-a-car algarvia Zitauto. The damage was not greater because several people helped the company's managers, driving vehicles away from the flames.
Abel Gomes, 2nd Commander of the District Relief Operations Command, said on the spot that the causes of the fire are not yet known, but a fire "that starts in a vehicle has a very rapid spread and, if it has fuel attached, the flames spread faster».
In addition to the speed of propagation of the flames, firefighters had to face another problem: «difficulties in access». O Sul Informação found that, for the fire engines to be able to reach the site of the fire, the land fence had to be destroyed.
One of the firefighters who was fighting the flames was injured without serious injury, was assisted by INEM on the spot, but Abel Gomes explained that "it was not due to the fire itself, he suffered a sprain and had to be taken to hospital."
In front of the firefighters, there are still several hours of work, since, according to the official, "aftermath work is time consuming", in this type of situation.
The alert for this fire was given at 14:18 pm and 51 firefighters, from six corporations, were at the scene, supported by 18 vehicles, GNR and INEM.
Armando Santana, president of ARA – Association of Rent-a-Car Companies of the Algarve, contacted by Sul Informação, did not want to draw comparisons between the two cases.
«Nobody knows what happened yet. What affected Luzcar park two years ago was someone who tried to steal fuel. But this time, at the time and with people there, that possibility is unlikely. It would not be the first time that a short circuit in a new car caused a fire», he considered.
The cars were deposited on agricultural land with grass around it, which helped spread the fire. Armando Santana recognizes that it is a problem, but "the only thing that we, as an association, can do is sensitize the authorities so that synergies are generated, in order to create more safety conditions."
Even so, he concludes, “even in a paved park, in the event of a short circuit, the fire would still occur, although it might not spread in the same way. What is needed is for the public and private sectors to come together to find a solution' for the parking of vehicles in the rent-a-cars.
Photos: Ana Madeira |Sul Informação
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