Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has announced the activation of the European Civil Protection Mechanism and bilateral agreements with Spain and Morocco in response to an extreme heat wave fueling severe wildfire risk in Portugal. This decision aims to prevent the need for transferring firefighting resources between regions due to a significant increase in rural fire danger. Currently, twelve out of Portugal’s 18 mainland districts are under red alert due to extreme heat, posing a high wildfire risk across the country.
A large wildfire has also broken out in Spain’s northeastern Catalonia region, affecting approximately 2,300 hectares of land and prompting evacuations of nearly 10,000 residents in Girona province. Despite strong winds hindering firefighting efforts and causing secondary blazes, all residents have been reported safe. Local fire services, supported by over 400 firefighters, helicopters, and firefighting aircraft, are working to contain the fire that has spread rapidly, reaching a nearby nature reserve.
Ferran Garcia, overseeing firefighting operations in Girona, expressed concerns that the fire may exceed current firefighting capabilities, emphasizing the priority to contain the blaze and minimize damage. Reports suggest a worker has been detained on suspicion of arson, with initial investigations pointing to machinery used during roadwork as a possible cause. The case is under investigation by local authorities.
