The Minister of the Interior urged this Saturday “all citizens to be aware” of the situation with the “extreme risk” of fires in Portugal, arguing that developments in the coming days will depend on the behavior of the Portuguese.
“We are going through moments of extreme risk and it is necessary that all citizens are aware of this extreme risk and act and behave in accordance with the standards of collective security that everyone must uphold,” said José Luis Carneiro.
The Minister of the Interior spoke to reporters at the Figo Maduro Air Base in Lisbon shortly after flying an Air Force P-3C Cup+ over the raging fires in Carraceda de Anciaes, in the Bragança region and in Urem. .
José Luis Carneiro warned that “until the 14th, 15th” there will be “exceptional circumstances that will require very great efforts” from the entire Portuguese population and in particular from “the parish authorities, the municipal councils, the Portuguese firefighters”. , Republican National Guard (NRG), all civil protection forces”.
However, the official recalled that “more than 50%” of the causes of fires are “anthropogenic causes” that arose as a result of “the use of fire, namely during combustion, during combustion, when using agricultural or forestry equipment.”
Thus, José Luis Carneiro urged the Portuguese to make “every effort” to avoid “the use of fire”, recalling that it is “categorically forbidden to make fire” and that “the use of any technique in agriculture or forestry”.
“These practices are banned because with the ban on these practices, we are working on 50% of the known causes of these fires so far,” he explained.
On the day the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) announced that the maximum number of outbreaks this year had been reached on Friday, namely 121 fires, José Luis Carneiro was asked if this number is expected to be exceeded in the coming days.
“I think that everything depends on the behavior of our fellow citizens,” the minister replied, repeating that “despite the weather conditions, the conditions associated with humidity below 20% in the country – and these are exceptional circumstances – more than 50% of the causes are human reasons.”
Thus, José Luis Carneiro argued that if everyone acted “with a sense of responsibility, for sure”, one would be “faced with a combination of these natural conditions, which are in themselves very complex and very demanding.”
“If more than 50% is the use of fire, namely burning, fires, the use of agricultural or forestry equipment, then this means that we have 50% of the conditions for reducing the fire risk,” he pointed out. .
José Luis Carneiro also added that, in addition to 50% related to negligent behavior, “11% of the reasons indicate a criminal attitude”, which is “the object of work on the part of the authorities.”
Shortly after flying aboard the P-3C Cup+, which may be requested by GNR to inspect fires, as was the case with this Saturday’s flight, José Luis Carneiro stressed that the combination of “aerial inspection conditions” with “inspection and detection mechanisms” which operate throughout the country, allow “to effectively detain those who are trying to violate collective security.”
“This year we already have more than 500 suspects, while last year, over the same period, we had just over 300, and we already have 47 arrests, which also shows the effectiveness of surveillance and screening tools and, at the same time, time by imposing sanctions on those who endanger our collective security,” he stressed.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
