Portugal rules out extension of fire alert due to improved situation

The Portuguese government has announced that it will not extend the state of alert decreed to fight forest fires, which will expire at midnight on Tuesday to Wednesday, due to the improvement of the situation and the reduction of the risk.

The Minister of Internal Administration, José Luís Carneiro, explained at a press conference that a “significant” improvement in weather conditions is expected from Wednesday, so he does not see the need to extend an alert that, among other measures, involves limits on agricultural work or access to forest areas.

However, he has warned that “special care” is still needed to prevent the country from returning to a worrying situation, according to the Lusa news agency. Eight fires were still active on Monday in Portugal.

The country is already approaching 100,000 hectares burned this year, after one of the worst summers in recent years. One of the most voracious fires has been in the Serra da Estrela, where António Costa’s government plans to declare a state of calamity to raise the level of aid.