News

Forest fires are dangerous, and most wildfires are caused by people, therefore, it is up to us to prevent them from happening and we should all take special precautions. Due to their unexpected nature, it is important to stay ahead and plan the precaution procedures, as well as being informed on how to react in case of emergency.

Preventive action is very important and really makes a difference, it is required by law to clean a house’s surrounding lands in order to minimize the risk and keep safety first. You have until March 15th to do it. Read more information on how to do it here.

There are many risky behaviours that can cause a forest fire, burning dry grass or yard debris in fields can easily spread to nearby forests; carelessly lit, tended campfires and smoking are another major concern throughout the burning season.

So here are some preventive and evacuation tips in case of fire:

- Contact 112 or 117 if you spot an unattended or out-of-control fire.

- Never leave a fire unattended, use water to extinguish it and stir the ashes until cold before leaving any campsite.

- Make sure you completely extinguish cigarettes before disposing them, and avoid, in every circumstance throwing them out of moving vehicles or anywhere near park grounds.

- Follow local regulations regarding permit requirements and "burn ban" restrictions if you’re looking to burn yard waste. Municipality authorization is required, and the fire department must be warned.

- In case of a nearby fire, if advised to evacuate, do so immediately

- Always keep at hand something that could extinguish a fire, such as a fire extinguisher, hose, hoes or shovels.

You can find more specific information here.

The main thing to retain is to be responsible when conducting a controlled burn and making sure you’re following all the safety instructions. Of all the fires that happened in Portugal last year, 57% were caused by yard waste burnings. Comparing to 2017 the country reduced its fires by approximately 15%, which is a good indicator that people are following the prevention instructions. Let’s continue reducing the number: safe forest, safe people!