Official State Secretary acknowledges temporary confusion in managing forest fires
Portugal Activates European Civil Protection Mechanism as Forest Fires Rage
The Portuguese government has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism in response to the ongoing large-scale forest fires in North and Central Portugal, a move that has been met with criticism due to perceived insufficient and delayed initial firefighting efforts.
The fires, which have been burning for several weeks, have been exacerbated by unusual weather conditions, such as dry thunderstorms and "convective" winds. Rui Rocha, Secretary of State for Civil Protection, acknowledges these anomalous circumstances and admits mistakes in the government's handling of the crisis.
The Lousa fire, which grew 30 km in three hours and reached a perimeter of 208 km, is one example of the rapid spread of the fires. Critics argue that the government was not adequately prepared or proactive, leading to intensified devastation and a lack of timely external support.
However, the Portuguese government maintains that the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism was a necessary escalation after the fires became uncontrollable, especially following a fatality and rapid fire spread. The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, led by Mario Silvestre, justified the decision based on fire developments overnight and early morning, and sought international support including Canadair aircraft.
Interior Minister Maria Lucia Amaral confirmed extended state of alert measures, with bans on agricultural and recreational activities in rural areas to mitigate fire risk. Portugal mobilized a large workforce—2,850 personnel, 960 vehicles, and 32 aerial assets—for firefighting operations.
Rui Rocha, having been a mayor in Ansiao, is familiar with the affliction and drama of forest fires. He suggests that the government should prepare a set of policies for prevention, organization of the territory, forest valorization, and collective responsibility. He also admits that there may have been some momentary lack of coordination due to the complexity of the theaters of operations.
Starting tonight, temperatures and humidity will decrease, ending the alert situation. The Minister of Economy, the Minister of State and Coherence, and the Minister of Agriculture are already studying the way to support the people affected by the forest fires. The main problem in the last few days has not been the lack of aerial means, but the fact that aircraft cannot operate due to lack of conditions.
The European Civil Protection Mechanism is a "last resort mechanism" and Brussels does not have a fleet of aircraft available for distribution among member states. This means that the assistance provided will likely be in the form of financial aid and logistical support.
Despite the criticism, the government's response has been to highlight the activation as a critical step aligned with the worsening emergency, supporting firefighting with EU assistance and strict local restrictions to control the fires. The government has also been criticized for its handling of the forest fires, but Rui Rocha admits mistakes and pledges to learn from this experience to better prepare for future emergencies.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
