On Tuesday, the government decided there was no need to resume high alert to respond to wildfires as weather forecasts indicated a “normal summer situation”.
“Everything indicates that from this Tuesday and with particular emphasis on the next few days, we are in the normal summer framework,” the Minister of Civil Protection said at a press conference.
Patricia Gaspard spoke to reporters at the National Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) headquarters in Karnakseed, Oeiras, after meeting via videoconference with representatives from various government areas to assess weather conditions and fire risk.
According to forecasts from the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA), relayed by the Secretary of State, the next few days will be warm and windy, especially on the coast, but within the range of what is usual in summer.
Thus, the Government considered that the situation, without being an exception, also did not justify the activation of the alert mode and that “the scenario is well within the normal anticipation and predictive response capability of a special device for fighting rural fires” coordinated by ANEPC.
The situation was reassessed on Tuesday after the government also decided on Saturday that there was no “need to re-activate high alert” taking into account weather forecasts for that day.
Patricia Gaspard also stated that ANEPC will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and only in the face of a change in the current scenario will management re-evaluate the need to re-activate the alert or contingency.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
