Portugal raises fire readiness as heat wave sparks multiple wildfires

A heat wave with temperatures near 40 °C has prompted Portugal’s civil protection agency to move to special readiness level 2, pre‑positioning resources and shortening response times, said National Civil Protection Operational Commander Mário Silvestre. He noted that fires from the previous day are being consolidated while new ignitions continue this morning, and that strong winds are hindering aerial monitoring.

In the Alentejo region, four active fires – in Odemira, Alcácer do Sal (two sites) and Serpa – involve more than 260 firefighters, over 60 ground vehicles and about a dozen aircraft. The Odemira blaze has 146 personnel, 47 vehicles and seven aircraft; the Alcácer do Sal fires involve 69 personnel, 29 vehicles and two aircraft, plus a smaller incident with 20 personnel and one aircraft; the Serpa agricultural fire has 26 personnel and eight ground units. Authorities urge the public to avoid activities that could trigger new fires.