Government ready to declare ‘state of alert’ as temperatures rise above 40ºC

Portugal’s government is considering declaring a state of alert as extreme heat, strong easterly winds and critically low humidity combine to create what officials warn could be one of the most dangerous wildfire periods of the summer.

Expresso reports today that the heightened risk comes as the country enters the Delta Phase of its Special Rural Firefighting Device (DECIR) – the period of maximum operational readiness that runs until September 30 and mobilises the largest annual firefighting force.

According to the Interior Ministry (MAI), a decision to declare a state of alert will depend on how weather conditions and the operational situation evolve over the coming days. Officials tell Expresso that wildfire incidents have already increased since Monday, when 46 fires were recorded.

If a state of alert is declared, the use of fire in forested areas will be prohibited and authorities may also restrict public access to high-risk woodland zones.

The Interior Ministry says surveillance has been reinforced in historically vulnerable regions, including the Caramulo mountain range, covering the municipalities of Águeda, Tondela, Mortágua, Vouzela and Oliveira de Frades, as well as the Freita mountains in Arouca, areas frequently affected by large wildfires.

Elísio Pereira, liaison officer at Portugal’s National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), says the situation is under continuous monitoring.

“We may pre-position resources in the most critical areas, issue a readiness alert or even declare a state of alert, depending on how weather conditions develop,” he told the paper.

Peak firefighting deployment begins

The Delta Phase marks the period of highest operational capacity in Portugal’s annual wildfire response strategy.

A total of 15,149 personnel organised into 2,596 teams, supported by 3,463 vehicles, 50 bulldozers and 78 aircraft, including helicopters, amphibious water bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, are now on standby across mainland Portugal.

The response continues to rely primarily on the country’s fire brigades, which provide 1,582 teams and 2,233 vehicles. Additional resources come from the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), the GNR’s Emergency Protection and Rescue Unit, AFOCELCA forestry teams and the Civil Protection Special Force.

ANEPC also maintains a strategic reserve of 3,947 additional personnel, 294 teams, 1,016 vehicles and 21 bulldozers, which can be deployed rapidly if conditions deteriorate.

Maximum fire danger

IPMA, the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, has placed around 20 municipalities in the districts of Bragança, Castelo Branco, Faro, Portalegre and Santarém under maximum rural wildfire danger today, while much of Portugal’s interior remains under a very high fire risk.

Forecasts indicate temperatures exceeding 40C in several inland regions, accompanied by moderate to strong easterly winds and sharply reduced humidity.

Climatologist Mário Marques says temperatures are expected to rise by between six and 10 degrees over the coming days, significantly increasing wildfire danger.

He said meaningful relief is not expected until around July 8, when cooler temperatures, higher humidity and a change in wind direction are forecast.

Critical first 90 minutes

Portugal’s National Operational Directive continues to prioritise rapid initial attack, with emergency services instructed to concentrate sufficient resources to bring fires under control within the first 90 minutes after ignition—a period regarded as crucial in preventing small outbreaks from becoming major wildfires.

When fire danger reaches very high or maximum levels, ANEPC can pre-position firefighting teams and equipment in vulnerable areas before any incidents occur, enabling a faster response.

Should the government declare a state of alert, emergency services would gain additional coordination powers while restrictions would be imposed on activities deemed capable of starting fires.

Armed surveillance patrols are already operating in some of Portugal’s highest-risk regions, with teams permanently deployed to detect and respond immediately to new fire outbreaks.

And as the country faces these next 10 days of ‘hotter than usual weather’, the warning is that the nights will see very little in the way of ‘cooling down’ – increasing health risks for the elderly and vulnerable.

There is also the risk of power cuts, due to the hot weather potentially affecting transformers at a point where many households/ businesses will be using air conditioning units.

source material: Expresso/ Antena 1 radio/ Executive Digest