Fire raged through the Alferce countryside near Monchique, today engaging 64 firefighters and 17 support vehicles in suppressing the flames which were fanned by a medium strength afternoon breeze.
The fire started at around 3pm and an hour later a water carrying helicopter was in support of ground teams.
The fire tore through difficult terrain and those on the ground could do little more than position themselves in strategic locations to halt the fire’s progress while watching the aerial water bombardment from one, then two helicopters.
The fire was contained and extinguished within two hours in a well planned and coordinated ‘rapid response’ operation.
Monchique has been on high alert for fires this past week and the current hot weather will do nothing to alter this status.
