“The next few days will be difficult.” Government declares a warning situation from Sunday

Continental Portugal will enter, from Sunday and until Thursday, in a warning situation due to the high risk of fire in the coming days, today announced the Minister of Internal Affairs.

Given the aggravation of weather forecasts that point to a significant risk of rural fire, the government decided to declare a warning situation throughout the continental territory, the minister said Maria Lúcia Amaralin a statement to the country, with no right to questions.

The warning situation comes into force from the 00:00 on Sunday And it extends until 11:59 pm on Thursday, August 7th.

The Minister of Internal Affairs explained the decision of the government stressing that, in the coming days, they should register high temperatures and low moisture levels that justify the “need for adopt preventive and special measures”.

So, between Sunday and Thursday, it is access, circulation and permanence inside forest spaces, according to the municipal forest defense plans against fire, as well as the realization of burning and burningthe authorizations issued for this period is also suspended.

The warning situation also implies prohibition of performing works in forest and rural spaces with the use of machinery and the use of firefire and other pyrotechnic artifacts. In this case, the authorizations already issued are also suspended.

According to the minister, the Exceptions can be consulted in the government portal.

Addressing the Portuguese, the Minister of Internal Affairs warned that the Next days will be difficult And he asked “serenity and spirit of national unity in facing this scourge”.

“I ask that Respect all indications and guidance from the competent authorities, respecting prohibitions, avoiding any practices that may cause fires. The action of all, conscious and preventive, is indispensable, ”he said.

The minister also assured that “the entire fire fighting device is ready and mobilized”And he added that the Republican National Guard Operational Response, the Public Security Police and the Armed Forces will be reinforced, as well as a thank you to the firefighters.

A most districts of the northern regionsCentro and Algarve is this Saturday at maximum fire riskaccording to data from the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).

No North and Center From mainland Portugal, almost all municipalities in the districts of Bragança, Vila Real, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Coimbra and Santarém are at utmost risk. The districts of Coimbra and Portalegre They also have several municipalities on this warning of the IPMA.

No Faro districtthe municipalities of Monchique, Portimão, Silves, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel and Tavira are also at maximum risk of fire.

Just some municipalities on the coast of the countrynamely in the districts of Lisbon, Setúbal, Porto and Aveiro are at risk moderate fire.

36 people in the act in the act

This year 36 people have already been arrested in the act forest fire crime and 525 were identified, today reveals GNR data, according to which they were registered 2,979 fire crimes.

According to GNR data, relative to 31 July, the districts with the largest number of arrests are Vila Real (8), Porto (7)Guard (5), Braga (4) and Leiria (4).

It is also emphasized, in a statement, that this year were signaled, throughout the country, 10,417 situations of lack of cleaning of land.

“Given the aggravation of the risk of fire in vast areas of the national territory, motivated by increasing temperatures, strong winds and low levels of relative humidity,” GNR states that it has “coming to reinforce, significantlyyour commitment to prevent and combat rural fires. ”

In this context, the intensifying the visibility patrolling and surveillance in high -risk forest and agricultural areas, very high and maximum, through their valences of nature and environmental protection, protection and help, territorial and criminal investigation, with the aim of deterrent behaviors and detecting suspicious situations.

GNR appeals, once again, to sense of responsibility of the populationstressing the importance of avoiding actions that can trigger fires such as smoking, making heat or bonfires, burning or burning, pouring rockets and lit -strand balloons.

It also appeals to “Avoid fumigating or disinfecting apiariesUnless the fumers are equipped with fault retention devices ”, circulate with tractors, machines and heavy transport vehicles that do not have extinguisher, sparks or sparks retention system and slap flames in the exhaust pipes or chimneys.

By preventive, GNR also recommends the population to follow the weather notices and fire risk levels Through official channels, “inform the authorities (112) immediately in case of smoke or fire” and avoid unnecessary displacement to forest zones on the most risk days.