The Minister of Internal Administration called this Thursday for fire risk behavior to be avoided due to the high temperatures predicted for the coming days, including the launch of traditional lit wick balloons by São João.
At a press conference in Carnaxide, Oeiras, Luís Neves highlighted that the next few days could have “terrible for this moment” weather conditions, with temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees or even higher possibly in the interior of the country and in Alentejo, with very low humidity, winds between 30 and 40 kilometers per hour and the possibility of dry thunderstorms, especially in the North and interior of the country.
Luís Neves highlighted that the Government expects “more detailed information”, today or Friday, about the rural fire danger (PIR) in the coming days to make decisions.
“I want to say that if the information we have regarding this PIR is serious, we will take drastic decisions, from the point of view of alerting and taking an interministerial measure”, through a dispatch from members of various areas of the Government, he said.
Regardless of this decision-making, according to the minister, there are behaviors that should not be engaged in, such as the use of machinery such as disc mowers and certain agricultural equipment, carrying out fires and burnings and the use of fireworks in traditional festivals, including lit wick balloons during Saint John festivitieswhich will take place next week.
“What we say to citizens and mayors is, please, do not use these instruments. They are putting people’s lives and people’s assets at risk”, he highlighted, also calling for active surveillance of citizens and the reporting of risky behavior.
Surveillance of areas affected by the storm reinforced Kristin
Meanwhile, a statement from MAI and the Ministry of National Defense (MDN) released this Thursday says that it was determined “to reinforce aerial surveillance in the area of activity of the Integrated Prevention and Operations Command (CIPO), in the central area of the country”. The decision was taken based on forecasts from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere for the coming days, which point to “a worsening of weather conditions”.
“The surveillance priority will focus on the 26 municipalities heavily affected by the storm Kristinwhich caused a very significant increase in the fuel load on the ground, resulting in an increased risk of the occurrence and spread of rural fires”, says the joint statement from these two ministries. The reinforcement of measures, with the participation of the Armed Forces, will include the activation of a Permanent Operations Center at Air Base No. 5, in Vila Real.
The statement also states that several aircraft will be kept “on standby”, namely a P-3 CUP+ aircraft for long-range patrolling, an EADS C-295M for “reconnaissance, observation and monitoring of large areas”, a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter and also drones for “persistent surveillance missions, detection of fire outbreaks and real-time monitoring of critical areas”.
Luís Neves highlighted that this year more than 120 people have been arrested for setting fires, two thirds of which for negligent conductwhen last year there were 155 people detained.
The minister reported that he gave “express instructions” to the Integrated Prevention and Operations Command (CIPO), which is in Leiria on a preventive basis, to start working in combat if conditions worsen.
The government official also assured that it will not be due to a lack of funds that firefighting will not be carried out this year and highlighted that the population must prepare for a summer with high temperatures, in a year in which it has not yet been possible to clean all the land affected by the storms in January and early February.
“What the Government says, and will now say publicly, will not be due to any financial constraint, no matter how minimal, that the fight against fires and forest outbreaks will no longer be carried out with all the conditions”, he stated.
MAI predicts increase in mortality due to heat
Luís Neves highlighted that, in the context of Health, an increase in mortality due to heat is expected, which is why he appealed to the families of the elderly and the most vulnerable population groups for protective care.
“The health sector is prepared (to), if in fact the weather conditions turn out to be extreme, to find spaces prepared to receive people who unfortunately do not have living conditions, so they can be protected from these heat waves”, he said.
Luís Neves participated in an extraordinary meeting of the National Operational Coordinating Center (CCON), with national authorities essential to protection and relief operations, at the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), in Carnaxide, Oeiras.
