Safe Communities Portugal Safety and Security Report 2nd October 2024
Good morning everyone. In the last three months, the rural fire-fighting system was at its maximum capacity, with 13,891 operatives, 3,084 teams, 2,990 vehicles and 72 aerial resources on standby, an increase in resources compared to the previous year.
This was a very busy period especially towards the end with many fires especially in the centre and north reaching a peak of around 450 fires on one single day with a deployment of over 5000 operatives. It was also a tragic period with the loss of five GNR soldiers in a helicopter accident and later the death of four fire fighters. Total land area burned was over 130,000 hectares taking the total to 147,000 hectares for the year. Fires also broke out in the Madeira burning for around 8 days and requiring the assistance of Canadair firefighting aircraft from Spain.
With the end of what was known as the critical period the National Operational Directive (DON), which establishes the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR), indicates that from yesterday onwards, resources were reduced, with 12,284 operatives, 2,749 teams, 2,651 vehicles and 61 aerial resources on standby on the ground until October 15. However, and in addition to the device already provided for in the DECIR for this phase, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) guarantees that the device will be reinforced in the event that weather conditions worsen the risk of rural fires.
It should be remembered that it was in mid-October 2017 that the major fires broke out mainly in the centre of Portugal costing the lives of over 40 persons. There is nothing to indicate that weather forecast and fire risk for October this year will be comparable to what it was in the same period of 2017
As a precaution however his year’s DECIR foresees the mobilization of additional resources to respond to more serious situations, with up to 20,000 operatives being able to be mobilized, until the end of October.
From fire to possible floods – the new hydrological year begins on October 1st, so it is important to be prepared for the precipitation that marks autumn by adopting prevention and self-protection measures. The need to mitigate the risks associated with possible periods of precipitation, which could be strong and prolonged, the intensification of the wind and the worsening of sea unrest, imply the early taking of collective and individual preparation measures.
The main causes of minor floods are obstructions to the circulation and regular drainage of rainwater. This can be due to: materials accumulated at the mouths of drainage systems; blockage of roadside water channels; the abandonment of waste from agricultural, forestry and inert material extraction activities, along communication routes and within water courses.
Vegetation is crucial for slope stability as it offers root support, regulates water content, and protects the soil surface. Fires can lead to slope failure by destroying vegetation, weakening root systems, and altering soil structure. Rainfall, especially intense rainfall, following fires in burned areas can therefore result in landslides and “loose objects may be dragged onto roads.
These risks can be increased when major fires occur very close to the beginning of the hydrological year and start of rainfall – as was the case this year.
The immediate or direct threats of a forest fire are the loss of human lives, partial or total destruction of private property, damage to infrastructures and loss of natural resources. However, after a forest fire, changes in vegetation, surface coverage conditions and/or hydrological processes can increase the probability and consequences of slope instability phenomena which can affect the areas in front or above the slopes long after forest fire extinction.
Be aware and prepared especially if you live at either the bottom or top of a slope that has recently subjected to rural fires. Safe Communities has prepared a feature on this topic for the Portugal Resident which will be published tomorrow 3rd October.
Our team at Safe Communities wish you a safe week ahead
News
Fighting fires. State air resources will only be fully available after 2030
The first helicopters purchased by the PS Government are currently on hold due to a lack of pilot training and aircraft qualification and certification, which are essential for operations on the ground.
The Government announced in June the State’s aerial resource plan for fighting fires, but the device is only expected to be available in force after 2030. Until then, the State will have to continue to resort to the allocation of aircraft and the help of the European Civil Protection mechanism.
In total, 11 aerial resources are planned in addition to the two Koalas that have been in action since May as part of the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR).
In addition to the two Black Hawk helicopters, which arrived this year, seven more are contracted to be delivered by 2025 and 2026, as well as two Canadair’s, scheduled to arrive in 2029 and 2030.
According to information provided by the Air Force to Renascença, the first two Black Hawks, which arrived in 2024, will only have completed the qualification, training and certification phase in two years, if everything goes as expected.
“Currently, the crew qualification and training phase and aircraft certification are underway, which is expected to be completed in 2026”, says the Air Force, adding, “the process faces insurmountable phases in order to guarantee safety and the full fulfilment of one of the most demanding and dangerous missions”.
Those arriving in 2025 will only be ready to go into the field from 2027 onwards, while the Canadairs will enter into action even later.
Duarte Caldeira, from the Centre for Studies and Intervention in Civil Protection, warns of this risk: “Since we are at the end of 2024, we can only expect to have air resources planned for 2027 or later. Only then can we count on air resources for the mission. Pilot training and certification must be taken into account. This is an entire process that is mandatory.”
“Until then, what we will continue to have, in addition to the Koalas, is the rental of resources to meet the needs of aerial intervention to combat forest fires”.
Portugal – 2024/25 Hydrological Year started yesterday
A hydrological year is between 1st October and 30th September of the following year.
The hydrological year 2023/24 in mainland has officially finished but we don’t have final numbers available, only the preliminary till the end of July 2024.
The value of the average accumulated precipitation until the end of July, in the hydrological year 2023/2024, is 934.4 mm, corresponds to 119% of the normal value for 1981-2010. The average accumulated precipitation in this hydrological year remains higher than the 1981-2010 average value and the previous year, with a difference of around + 151 mm.
The values of the average accumulated precipitation in the hydrological year 2023/2024 are higher than normal throughout the North region and part of the Central region.
In some places in the district of Castelo Branco, in the Tejo valley (some places in the districts of Lisbon and Setúbal) and in a large part of south Alentejo and Algarve, the accumulated values in the hydrological year are lower than the normal value.