Around 80 municipalities in the districts of Faro, Vila Real, Porto, Bragança, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Santarém and Portalegre are today at maximum risk of rural fires, indicated the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
Several municipalities in all districts of mainland Portugal present a very high and high risk of fire, according to the IPMA.
The weather forecast for the continent is for partly cloudy or clear skies, sometimes strong winds on the western coastal strip and in the highlands, a rise in maximum temperatures on the west coast and a slight drop in the northern and central interior.
Minimum temperatures will range between 10º Celsius (Bragança) and 21 (in Faro) and maximums between 24 (in Viana do Castelo) and 34 (in Évora and Setúbal).
This risk, determined by the IPMA, has five levels, ranging from low to high. The calculations are obtained from air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and amount of precipitation in the last 24 hours.
The IPMA predicts a gradual rise in temperature, low humidity across most of the territory and strong winds in the highlands (especially at night) over the next few days.
Following the forecast, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) reported on Thursday, in a statement, that the regions of the north and center interior, Alto Alentejo and Algarve will be under very high risk of rural fires in the coming days.
The predicted atmospheric conditions translate into “an increased risk of fire, with conditions favourable to the possible occurrence and spread of rural fires”, and an increased difficulty in fighting the flames.
Given the level of risk, Civil Protection stressed that it is prohibited to carry out extensive burning or burning of piles, use cutting equipment (such as chainsaws and angle grinders), with exhaust without a flame arrestor or other equipment that may generate sparks or heat and fumigate or disinfect apiaries.
He also highlighted the prohibition of the use of fire for cooking in rural areas, except if it is outside critical areas and in places duly authorized for this purpose.
“ANEPC recommends adapting behaviors and attitudes in the face of the rural fire danger situation, namely the adoption of the necessary prevention and precautionary measures, in accordance with current legislation, and paying special attention to the evolution of the fire danger during this period”, it said in the note.
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