The number of rural fires reached its highest level this year in July, with 1,082 incidents, almost double the 596 rural fires in June and also accounting for the largest area burned so far this year.
According to preliminary data from the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), the 1,082 rural fires last month represent an increase of about 81% compared to June, which was so far the month with the highest number of cases in 2024, and correspond to 38% of the total (2,820) rural fires registered between January and July this year.
Despite this, the record of 1,082 rural fires in July is significantly lower than the 2014–23 decade average for the same period, which was 2,193.
In terms of area burned, last month was also the month with the highest values this year, with 1,538 hectares affected by fires, exceeding the 949 hectares observed in June and corresponding to 35% of the total 4,425 hectares burned in 2024.
In terms of the distribution of burnt area in July, the largest amount of fires were in populated areas – 732 hectares, followed by rural fires in forests (475) and agricultural lands (331).
As with the number of fires, the comparison with the average annual figures for the last 10 years for this period favours 2024, as the average area of fires in July was 18,754 hectares.
ICNF statistics on fire causes between January and July this year show that arson was the most common isolated cause among the 1,975 incidents investigated, accounting for 24% of rural fires, ahead of extensive burning of forests or agricultural residues (16%).
However, if you add up the different types of fires and how they are used, you get a total of 42% of fire causes, followed by rural fires of accidental origin (16%), other undetermined causes (12%), overexposure (3%), campfires (2%) and fires caused by natural causes such as lightning strikes (1%).
“Of the 2,820 rural fires recorded in 2024, 1,975 were investigated and the process of investigating the causes was completed (70% of the total number of fires – they account for 82% of the total area of fires). Of these, the investigation allowed us to establish the causes of 1,464 fires (74% of the investigated fires – they account for 68% of the total area of fires),” the report says.
Regionally, the highest number of rural fires in 2024 will be recorded in the districts of Porto (429), Viana do Castelo (265) and Braga (239).
However, in terms of the area burned this year, the region of Viana do Castelo stands out with 712 hectares, followed by Beja (697 hectares) and Braga (449 hectares).
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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