The National Republican Guard (GNR) arrested 59 people for arson by April 17, 57 of whom were due to negligence involving uncontrolled burning of agricultural waste, the force reported on Thursday, April 23. Most arrests occurred in the districts of Vila Real and Braga, with 14 in each, followed by Leiria (10) and Viseu (seven). GNR data indicates most detainees were aged between 41 and 50 (18), 51 and 64 (16), and 75 and 84 (13). Under the ongoing 'Safe Forest Operation 2026', the GNR identified 7,664 plots of land requiring mandatory clearing, primarily in Leiria (1,794), followed by Bragança (1,068), Santarém (594), Braga (486), Viseu (480), and Coimbra (454). Provisional data shows 7,675.30 hectares have burned as of April 15, compared to 3,418 in 2025. The GNR advises citizens not to conduct burnings without prior registration on official platforms or local authority authorisation, and to avoid using fire on days with strong winds or high temperatures. They also advise never to leave a waste burning site without ensuring it is completely extinguished.