The fire that started on Wednesday, August 14, in the municipality of Ribeira Brava, and spread to other municipalities, remains active, having forced the evacuation of several homes in Curral das Freiras during Saturday night.
According to Diário de Notícias da Madeira, which cites the president of the Curral das Freiras Parish Council, Manuel Salustino, the fire now has two active fronts in this parish, in the areas of Terra Chã and Seara Velha.
The evacuated residents were taken to a pavilion and to the Church area. More than 50 people were reportedly removed from their homes.
The Regional Civil Protection Service of Madeira confirmed this information. “In Curral das Freiras, the fire has already spread throughout the slope, putting the areas of Seara Velha and Terra Chã de Cima at risk. The evolution of the fire in this parish led to the evacuation of residents from their homes for safety and precaution, triggered by the Municipal Civil Protection Service of Câmara de Lobos,” reads the latest update.
The Mixed Fire Department of Ribeira Brava and Ponta do Sol confirmed that the flames were still active, particularly in an inaccessible area in Terra Chã.
Fighting the fire “has been especially difficult due to the progression of the fire in areas of difficult ground access.”
In Ribeira Brava, the fire remains active on the Encumeada front, although outside residential areas.
In the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, a fire continues to spread between the localities of Jardim da Serra and Curral das Freiras, “with flames approaching residential areas in Jardim da Serra, although no homes are in danger yet.”
According to Civil Protection, there are currently 56 operatives from various fire departments on the ground, supported by 18 vehicles, one aerial vehicle, and the Mobile Telecommunications and Emergency Unit of the SRPC.
“Despite adverse conditions such as high temperatures, low humidity, strong winds, and complex orography, the teams are in the theater of operations making every effort to control the flames and safeguard residences,” emphasizes Civil Protection, urging the population to avoid unnecessary travel to affected areas.
On Friday night, a source from the Madeiran executive president’s office told Lusa news agency that the Government of the Republic offered support in fighting the fire, but Miguel Albuquerque conveyed that the resources on the ground were sufficient at this time.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, contacted the president of the Regional Government to offer support in fighting the fires,” the source from Miguel Albuquerque’s office told Lusa.
The president of the Madeiran government, according to the same source, informed that “due to the areas of difficult access” where the fires are occurring, it is not possible to allocate more resources, and “even the helicopter cannot always operate due to the wind.”
“At the moment, it is not necessary,” he reinforced.
[News updated at 11:29 AM]