Nuno André Ferreira / Lusa
The removal of a helicopter of fires from Arcos de Valdevez leaves Alto Minho “hostage to luck and meteorology.” Just at a time when heat came hard.
A traveling of a helicopter From the heliport from Arcos de Valdevez to Portalegre is worrying the Minho.
The president by the District Civil Protection Commission of the Viana do Castelo district said that this scenario leaves the Alto Minho “hostage to luck and meteorology”.
Contacted by the Lusa Agency, regarding the decision of the government to mitigate the absence of five air media in the special device to combat rural fire (decir) 2025, Vitor Paulo Pereira said it is a “very harmful” decision for the region.
The official recalled that Alto Minho is characterized by “a very mountainous relief that Only air media allow for more effective combat”.
According to Vitor Paulo Pereira, the district will aggravate your situation of greater fragility because it is one of those who in the country has fewer firefighters available.
“This is not even a matter of doing politics. It is a matter of safeguarding the population and Avoid all negative consequences of large fires which are a latent threat all summers. With less one helicopter the situation becomes more difficult, ”said the socialist.
Minus one helicopter in Alto Minho
On Wednesday, the Secretary of State for Civil Protection said that to mitigate the absence of five air assets in decir 2025 will be displaced one of the two air assets, which is still under maintenance, from the Heliporto de Arcos de Valdevez, to Portalegre.
“We have had difficulties that result from situations that go bey, namely the deserted Air Force contest and makes it impossible for us to have all available means we would like to have,” he said Rui Rochaduring a visit to the logistical support base of Castelo Branco.
Vítor Paulo Pereira added that in addition to the very rugged relief and the lack of firefighters, “the climacteric conditions this year contributed greatly to the increase of fuel load.”
“All this makes us very worried. The government said it was going to do everything to make the air to return, but as we know the difficulties of public hiring, I fear that the helicopter replacement is no longer done in time”He stressed.
The heat has arrived and
Decir 2025 provided for 79 aircraft, but at this time, a few days from the entry into force of the Delta phase, considered the most critical (from Tuesday and until September 30), There is a need to guarantee five air assets.
From Tuesday, Portugal can also have a pair of medium airplanes Fire Boss amphibians, under the Reseu program, to act whenever the national response capabilities are insufficient to extreme situations.
These means involve an investment of about 2.6 million euros, financed at 75% by the European Commission, and enable reinforcement of rural fires.
The Reseu Program was created under the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to ensure a rapid, effective and coordinated response to large -scale emergencies.
