“Tonight the fire was quite active. We thought it would continue towards Pico do Areeiro, which it did, but there was a change in winds and it ended up opening an active line that descended the slope and returned to a residential area in Pico Furão, which necessitated the [removal] of a bedridden lady as a precaution,” Leonel Silva informed Lusa agency around 9:00 AM.
According to the mayor, “it was an intense night of firefighting” in the area, with “firefighters positioned in a water line, on a path north of the houses,” and it was possible to “contain the fire’s progression at that point.”
This morning “the residential areas are out of danger.”
“The fire remains active in the Lombo do Portais area, but it’s a mountainous, very steep area, not residential, not agricultural. It’s pure, hard forest land, but it remains very active and progressing,” he explained.
Leonel Silva added that “resources remain committed on site,” waiting for the possibility to intervene under safe conditions.
“At this moment, there’s no residential area that’s even close to danger, but we’re prepared to intervene as soon as it’s opportune and possible,” he reinforced.
On site are five light vehicles, one heavy vehicle, and various human resources.
“In this case, human resources will be necessary, indeed, but we have enough people for now. At this stage, it’s a matter of waiting for progression,” he concluded.
The rural fire in Madeira broke out a week ago, on August 14, in the mountains of Ribeira Brava, spreading on Thursday to the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, and, over the weekend, to the municipality of Ponta do Sol.
In these eight days, authorities have instructed nearly 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and provided public shelter facilities, but many residents have already returned, except for Fajã das Galinhas in Câmara de Lobos and Furna in Ribeira Brava.
Fighting the flames has been hampered by wind, now reduced, and high temperatures, but there’s no record of destruction of houses and essential infrastructure.
Three firefighters have already received hospital assistance for exhaustion and symptoms related to “malaise and indisposition,” with no other injuries reported.
Data from the European Forest Fire Information System, indicated by the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service, António Nunes, point to 4,392 hectares of burned area up to 12:00 PM on Tuesday.
The Judiciary Police is investigating the causes of the fire, but the president of the Madeiran executive, Miguel Albuquerque, says it’s arson.
