Fires and what we can do to prevent them

The emergency number in Portugal - 112

Follow the status of the fires on the website of the National Civil Protection Authority. Care should be redoubled if you are in the habit of going for a walk in the forest.

Managing vegetation  within a radius of 50 meters around the house is essential. The task is mandatory for owners, tenants, usufructuaries or entities that hold land within a radius of 50 meters from the outer wall of the building. 

The deadline for the cleaning of woods and land by the owners or those who rent or use these spaces ends at the end of May. Where they do not do so, municipalities can take their place, but then charge them for the appropriate costs.

In order to manage non-compliances and contact the owners, the city councils have access to the database of the Single Counter of the Building. Here are the tax data of the buildings and the identification of the owners and their tax domicile, among other information.

Forest fire prevention measures

Follow the recommendations of the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests and the National Civil Protection Authority.

• Create a protective strip around the house. The perimeter is 50 meters, calculated from the exterior wall of the house.
• If you have a garden, the trees and shrubs should be five meters from the house. Ensure the maintenance of the canopies, which must be separated from each other by at least four meters, so that they do not protrude over the roofs. The pruning of the trees must be done four meters above the ground. If the tree is less than eight meters tall, prune only the bottom half (50% of the tree). If you are considering cutting down a tree, give preference to the weakest or sickest.
• Make sure that in the ten meters around the house no more flammable vegetation grows, such as brambles or canes.
• Avoid accumulating firewood, leftovers from forestry or agricultural exploitation and flammable substances (such as diesel) within the protection range. But if you don't have another place to store these materials, pack them in isolated compartments.
• Around the house, keep a strip of non-flammable flooring (such as cement or mosaic) with one to two metres.
• Access to the house should always be clean and unobstructed. If possible, also create a zone that allows cars to make a U-turn.
• Roofs , gutters  , and wooden walkways accumulate grass and dry leaves. Clean these areas regularly.
• Install a spark retention net in the chimneys of the house. In the event of a fire, be aware of the gaps in the doors and windows through which the sparks may enter.
• If you have crops, separate the crops with fire barriers (for example, a path).
• If you need to work with fuel, avoid very hot days and hotter hours.
• If you are working with manual tools or brush cutters, avoid touching stones and metals.
• Notify the authorities if there is garbage accumulated near the houses.
• Prepare a house evacuation plan and practice it with your family. Also agree on a meeting point or a mode of contact, so that you are not separated during a fire.
• Do not set fires inside forests or in nearby areas.
• Do not launch firecrackers or fireworks in rural areas.
• Never leave children alone at home, let alone locked up.
• Do not let children play with matches or lighters.
• Never let a small fire grow. In the first minute, any nascent fire is extinguished with a glass of water, but five minutes later, a ton of water may not be enough.

Always have something on hand that you can extinguish a fire source with, such as a fire extinguisher, hose, hoes or shovels. It is advisable to have a radio, a battery-operated flashlight (and extra batteries), first aid equipment, strong and heat-insulating shoes, water bottles and food in canned food containers.

In the event of a fire, you should call the national emergency number 112 or the fire brigade in your area. Consult the website of the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) to monitor the areas that present the greatest risk of fire on a daily basis.