Portugal's IPMA warns of heightened wildfire danger across 22 districts

The Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has placed 22 municipalities in the districts of Faro, Santarém, Leiria, Coimbra, Castelo Branco and Bragança under a very high risk of rural wildfire. The most exposed towns include Silves, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, Tavira, Chamusca, Vila Nova da Barquinha, Tomar, Ourém, Alcanena, Ferreira do Zêzere, Batalha, Marinha Grande, Alvaiázere, Ansião, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Penela, Miranda do Corvo, Pampilhosa da Serra, Vila de Rei, Bragança and Mogadouro. IPMA expects the danger to increase from Wednesday and stay elevated through the weekend, based on temperature, humidity, wind and recent precipitation.

Mayors of Pedrógão Grande, Castanheira de Pera and Figueiró dos Vinhos warned that winter storms have left large amounts of forest debris and biomass, raising the threat of a fire disaster similar to the deadly 2017 wildfires that killed 66 people. They plan intensified surveillance and further clearing of forest fuel to reduce the risk this summer.