Portugal readies full force against wildfire risk amid extreme heat

Portugal is mobilizing its full capacity to combat the escalating risk of wildfires, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced Friday. The nation is bracing for potential blazes as an extreme heatwave grips the country, exacerbating fire danger across much of the territory. "The country is preparing to use all its capacity from a human, technical, and operational standpoint," Montenegro stated.

His remarks came as over 1,000 firefighters and 13 aerial units battled a significant blaze in Vouzela, central Portugal. The prime minister, speaking from Toronto where he attended a World Cup match, emphasized the government's commitment to maximum prevention to avoid more extreme situations. However, he acknowledged the limits of control: "We do not control nature, we do not control some behaviors that are often associated with criminal phenomena."

Interior Minister Luís Neves echoed these concerns, suggesting the Vouzela fire might have a criminal origin. He noted that strong, variable winds are hindering firefighting efforts but expressed hope for calmer conditions later in the day. "Everything points to human intervention, a criminal act," Neves said, particularly regarding the fire that started early Friday.

This situation follows the arrest of two men, aged 32 and 24, on suspicion of starting a forest fire on June 28 in Ligares. The investigation indicates they used direct fire on dry vegetation, causing a blaze that spread to adjacent areas, burning over 200 hectares. One of the detainees is also suspected of a similar incident on June 16 in the same locality.

Most of mainland Portugal is under a red alert for heat, with a maximum and very high risk of forest fires, according to the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).