Madeira mayors worried about wind and temperatures making it difficult to fight fires

The presidents of the municipalities of Camara de Lobos and Ribeira Brava in western Madeira today expressed concern about the fires raging in the two municipalities, stressing that the weather conditions are not making the fight any easier.

On Wednesday morning, the fire broke out in the parish of Serra de Água, Ribeira Brava, in an area that is difficult to access, and then spread to other areas of the municipality, while on Thursday evening the flames spread to the highlands of the neighboring municipality of Câmara de Lobos, reaching the Jardim da Serra mountains.

Speaking to Lusa, Ribeira Brava Mayor Ricardo Nascimento noted that the situation in the Serra de Água and Espigão areas was relatively under control in the afternoon, with only a few recurring fires recorded. There are flames even in Trompique, a forested area that does not threaten homes.

However, the mayor acknowledged concerns “while the fire is not out” and stressed that high temperatures and winds make it difficult to fight and could contribute to reignitions.

In the neighbouring municipality of Camara de Lobos, “the situation is not easy,” the municipal president, Leonel Silva, admitted to Luse.

“Unfortunately, the fire is quite active,” he said, noting that there are two active fronts, one in the Boca da Corrida area, with “extremely difficult” access and with a “significant” area of ​​forest already burned.

In the Achada area, the fire is “still far from homes” and is currently “approaching the agricultural area.”

“The weather conditions are not conducive to the work of firefighters,” the mayor complained.

As for the burned area, the mayors say that it has not yet been counted.

Firefighters from Ponta do Sol and Ribeira Brava, Camara de Lobos and the Madeira volunteer firefighters, as well as staff from the PSP and the Institute of Forestry and Nature Conservation, were involved in these rural fires.

The air resources of the Regional Civil Protection Service with the corresponding helicopter transport brigade were also mobilized, but on a limited basis due to strong winds.

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), the northern and southern coasts of Madeira, as well as the mountainous areas, are currently under orange warning (the second most serious on a scale of three) due to hot weather. The island of Porto Santo is the least serious.