The season that mobilizes the most resources for fighting rural fires ends today with less burnt area, but with more fires compared to last year.
According to the National Operational Directive (DON), which establishes the Special Device for Combating Rural Fires (DECIR), the period that mobilizes the most resources and is considered the most critical ends today, with on-the-ground operations set to be reduced from Thursday, including fewer operational personnel, vehicles and aerial assets.
From July 1st to today, in the so-called ‘delta level’ and when the device was at maximum strength, there were on the ground 15,149 operational personnel from 2,595 teams, 3,463 vehicles, 50 tracked machines and 81 aerial assets, three of which are helicopters from AFOCELCA (a forest protection company focused on fighting rural fires).
This year nearly eight thousand fires were sparked, causing 74,267 hectares of burnt area, down 72% relative to the same period last year and the sixth-worst year of the decade, according to provisional data from the Integrated System for Rural Fire Management (SGIFR).
Fires increased by about 9% compared to 2025, and this year recorded the largest number of fires since 2022, also making it the sixth year of the decade with the most fires.
This fire season is also marked by the death of a female firefighter from Resende, in the district of Viseu, during firefighting operations.
SGIFR data also indicate that the North is the region with the most burnt area this year, totaling 44,046 hectares, followed by the Centre (22,587) and Alentejo (5,389).
Approximately half of this year’s burnt area occurred on days with high fire risk.
In a response sent to Lusa, the Ministry of Internal Administration states that “no changes are planned” to DECIR, with a robust device remaining on the ground in the coming days.
For the next 15 days, when ‘Level Charlie’ will be in force—the third that mobilizes the most fighting resources—12,866 personnel from 2,155 teams, 2,857 vehicles, 41 tracked machines and 67 aerial assets will be operational.
