Latest news and stories about fire prevention in Portugal for expats and residents.
Minister of Defence Nuno Melo has guaranteed that the Armed Forces are fully mobilized and prepared to assist in the prevention and combat of forest fires during the current high-risk season. The minister emphasized that the military is committed to acting within its capabilities to support national firefighting efforts as temperatures reach record highs.
Over 6,000 private landowners have registered their intention to remove woody material and clear priority areas to prevent wildfires. The Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas or ICNF) is accelerating these interventions, particularly in regions where Storm Kristin left significant debris. Landowners should be aware that they have the autonomy to remove flammable materials and forest residues (sobrantes) to reduce fire risks.
The Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas, ICNF) is the state agency that manages Portugal's protected areas and public forests and regulates hunting and inland fishing. It also issues the opinions and permits needed for building and other projects in protected areas and on forest land, and plays a role in wildfire prevention.
The Portuguese government has confirmed it will not extend the deadline for landowners to clear their plots, emphasizing that municipalities retain the responsibility for enforcement under Decree-Law 82/2021.
The project includes a fire network and a water reservoir with a capacity of 1,250 cubic metres, as well as fire hydrants distributed along the route at intervals of approximately 120 metres.
Since the beginning of the year, the GNR has recorded 7,034 rural fires and arrested 172 suspects.
A fire defence network will occupy 91 plots of land in the municipality of Arcos de Valdevez. In Monção, the measure involves the parish of Merufe and the Union of Parishes of Anhões and Luzio.
João Paulo Catarino, former Secretary of State for Nature Conservation, Forests and Land Planning, responded to criticism from the President of the Republic, António José Seguro, regarding failures in fire prevention. While acknowledging the President's right to demand results, Catarino defended the Socialist Party's record, citing over a billion euros in investment through various funds and the implementation of recommendations from the 2017 independent commission. He also addressed Seguro's specific concerns about the Serra da Estrela recovery, arguing that the Socialist government had initiated local agreements and that the responsibility for executing the 150-million-euro recovery plan, approved shortly before the government left office, now lies with subsequent administrations.
According to the GNR, a 75-year-old man caused the flames while clearing agricultural land using a brushcutter.
Montesinho Natural Park, which will be at maximum fire risk on Wednesday, is set to attract many visitors for the eclipse observation. Authorities are asking that risky behaviour be avoided in that and other rural or forest areas.
The Prime Minister also noted that the executive is investing more in prevention and initial response to fires to prevent them from spreading and growing to large dimensions.
The Prime Minister guarantees that 54% of expenditure will be channelled into fire prevention, compared to 20% in previous years.
Antonio José Seguro says that after Pedrógão, much remained to be done.
The Minister of Internal Administration says that everything is being done for fire prevention. Luís Neves spent the day in meetings with mayors of municipalities affected by the flames.
The minister recalled that two major fires occurred in the country this year, in Vouzela and Valpaços, and that more than 95% of fires are fought in the initial moments, highlighting the need to focus on both firefighting and prevention.
A guarantee given by Luís Neves, who said he had not heard the messages from the President of the Republic.
A Portuguese artificial intelligence platform is now entering a testing phase to help predict the evolution of fires and support teams on the ground, explains André Morais, coordinator of the Montijo Civil Protection.
The Secretary of State for Civil Protection appealed to the “sense of responsibility” of citizens, “especially in these more critical days, so that maximum care can be taken.”
Rui Rocha, Secretary of State for Civil Protection, states that the country's main goal is “to have no ignitions” so that it is then possible to “maintain and improve the initial attack” on incidents.
SIION differs from other existing fire behaviour prediction systems by cross-referencing information to suggest which resources should be used and where they should be located in record time.
SIION differs from other existing fire behaviour prediction systems by cross-referencing information to suggest which resources should be used and where they should be positioned.
Data shows that the country failed to reach the planned objectives for prescribed fire management between 2019 and 2023.
The municipality of Paredes de Coura has been investing in fuel management through grazing. The project, integrated into Green Gap, is part of other measures to prevent fires. It is proving successful.
Works were completed this Friday.
Platform updates the water status of forests. It enables the viewing of other indicators for prevention and integrates data from various meteorological services. 2025 was the 'fourth worst year' in terms of burnt area.
Platform updates the water status of forests and the amount of water in the soil daily through open-access maps.
Commander Luís Martins says that Portugal needs to move from reports to action in fire prevention. The CNN Portugal commentator points out that there is a lack of “courage and will” to implement measures on the ground and warns of coordination problems before the most critical days of summer.
Livre warns that the reinforcement of firefighting equipment may not be enough and has requested more guarantees and explanations regarding resources, prevention, and land clearing.
The Minister of Internal Administration classifies the heatwave as a powder keg and urges caution regarding behaviour over the coming days, which could see temperatures reach 47ºC. Luís Neves asks for extreme care to prevent fires that could result in loss of life.
The Minister of Internal Administration classifies the heatwave as a powder keg and urges caution regarding behaviour over the coming days. Luís Neves asks for the utmost care to prevent fires that could result in loss of life.
The President of the Republic asked today that the Portuguese follow “all instructions” that national authorities will issue in the coming days to deal with the expected heatwave and to take “great care” in fire prevention.
The President of the Republic asked this Wednesday that the Portuguese follow “all instructions” that national authorities will issue in the coming days to deal with the expected heatwave and to be “very careful” in preventing fires. “I leave here an appeal so that we can all, in the first place, be very careful in...
