The National Civil Protection Emergency Authority (ANEPC) reiterated yesterday the warning to the population of the worsening risk of rural fires in the coming days, in view of the forecast of rising temperatures and low humidity.
ANEPC, based on information from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), issued a statement in which it warns of the rise in maximum temperature, progressing from South to North, reaching in some places values above 40 degrees Celsius (40ºC ) and wind up to 30 kilometers/hour (km/h) from the north quadrant, with gusts of up to 60 km/h on the western coastal strip south of Cabo da Roca.
As for the lower relative humidity, forecasts point to it being 30% throughout the territory, with no overnight recovery.
In view of this meteorological scenario, there is “a risk of 'Very High' Rural Fire at 'Maximum' across the mainland, worsening on the North and Center coast in the coming days”, underlines the Civil Protection.
ANEPC warns of the “worsening of the initial propagation speed of fires due to the increase in wind intensity and consequently the increase in the difficulty of suppression actions”, in a “weather framework that also increases the probability of ignitions, which translates into a potential increase in the number of occurrences of rural fires”.
The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) put the district of Lisbon on red notice today between 10:00 am and 18:00 pm on Sunday due to the heat, with temperatures expected between 39 and 41 degrees Celsius.
According to the IPMA, on Sunday and Monday, temperatures in the city of Lisbon can reach values between 39 and 41 degrees, while the minimum temperature will vary between 20 and 22 degrees.
Meanwhile, the IPMA has also placed twelve districts in mainland Portugal on 'Orange Warning' at the end due to the heat.
According to the IPMA, between Sunday and Wednesday, the maximum temperature should vary between 35 and 40 degrees in most of the territory.
Thus, the districts of Faro and Lisbon will be on 'Orange Notice' between 00:00 on Saturday and 10:00 on Sunday, Setúbal between 00:00 today and 18:00 on Monday, as well as the districts of Évora, Santarém, Leiria, Beja, Castelo Branco and Portalegre between 12:00 pm on Sunday and 18:00 pm on Monday.
Guarda and Coimbra are also under 'Orange Warning', but between 12h00 and 18h00 on Mondays.
The 'Orange Warning' is issued by the IPMA when there is a meteorological situation of moderate to high risk.
ANEPC recalls that the law prohibits extensive burning without prior authorization, as well as that on 'Very High' and 'Maximum' fire risk days it is also prohibited to burn heaps and use fire to cook food throughout the rural areas, unless used outside critical areas and in places duly authorized for this purpose.
It is also forbidden to fumigate or disinfect in apiaries, except if the fumigators have spark retention devices, as well as to use brush cutters, brush cutters and shredders. Avoid using disc harrows.
The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection “recommends the adequacy of behaviors and attitudes in the face of the situation of rural fire danger, namely the adoption of the necessary preventive and precautionary measures, in accordance with the legislation in force, and paying special attention to the evolution the danger of fire in this period”.
Due to the increase in temperatures, ANEPC reinforces the importance of the population increasing water intake, at least 1,5 liters/day (the equivalent of eight glasses), applying sunscreen with a factor greater than 30, every two hours, wear a hat and light, loose and fresh clothes, choose light and fresh meals and refresh yourself with water throughout the day.
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