Forest fires ravage Portugal, with nitrogen emanating from multiple blazes

Portugal Battles Wildfires Amidst Unfavorable Conditions

Portugal is once again grappling with the annual challenge of wildfires, primarily in the northern and central regions of the Iberian Peninsula. The current situation is a repeat of past years, exacerbated by factors such as the large number of eucalyptus plantations and the reliance on volunteer firefighters.

In the north, the fires in Arouca, about 60 kilometers south of Porto, and Ponte da Barca, near Galicia, are the current focus of resources. In Ponte da Barca, 420 firefighters and 145 land vehicles are deployed, while in Arouca, 678 personnel and 241 vehicles are fighting the fire that started on Monday afternoon.

The excess of eucalyptus, a contributing factor to the spread of wildfires, is a legacy of the 1950s and 1960s when its expansion occurred during the Salazar dictatorship. Portugal is the world leader in the cellulose industry, transforming wood, mainly eucalyptus, into cellulose pulp for the manufacture of paper, cardboard, and derived products.

Unfavorable climatic conditions, aggravated by high temperatures due to global warming, an excess of eucalyptus, the lack of native, fire-resistant forests, and volunteers firefighters who are not properly prepared or equipped, contribute to Portugal being a victim of forest fires annually.

To combat this issue, there have been proposals to recover native vegetation of oaks and chestnuts, which are resistant to fire, and to reduce the surface area of eucalyptus and pines. Additionally, Portugal should take Spain as an example in fire management and establish permanent watchtowers and a quick response team in Peneda-Gerês National Park.

Spain, for instance, has a permanent helicopter stationed next to a pond in the Monfragüe National Park for firefighting. Monfragüe National Park also has several fire prevention and response infrastructures, including a helipad and an airstrip for amphibious aircraft under construction.

The firefighting corps in Portugal are composed mainly of volunteer firefighters, numbering a total of 28,000 agents. However, only a small proportion are professional (career) firefighters, with the majority being volunteers. This reliance on volunteer brigades, while commendable, can pose challenges in terms of preparedness and equipment.

Despite these challenges, Serafim Riem, a firefighter, emphasizes the importance of attacking fires agilely at their source. He states that fires are fought "much faster" when this approach is taken.

For Thursday, the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) has issued a maximum and very high fire risk warning for almost the entire northern half of the country. This warning comes as the Portuguese firefighting corps continue their efforts to contain the wildfires that are currently ravaging parts of the nation.