The wildfire that broke out yesterday in a rural area of Ameixial parish, in the municipality of Loulé, was declared under control at 4am today, 24 June.
The blaze started at 10.49am on Tuesday and at one stage encircled several villages, although no evacuations were required. However, according to the Algarve Sub-Regional Command, four firefighters sustained minor injuries after tripping whilst tackling the flames.
Firefighting efforts were hampered by strong winds and gusts, which carried burning embers more than 500 metres, sparking spot fires and complicating containment operations.
At 6.30am, 348 personnel remained at the scene, supported by 123 vehicles and 10 bulldozers. By 9am, the operation involved 352 firefighters, 121 vehicles, and two aircraft.
Although the fire was officially brought under control at 4.07am, a substantial emergency response remains in place. Around 324 firefighters continue to monitor the affected area, supported by 107 vehicles and two aircraft, in case the fire reignites.
Speaking during an operational briefing in Besteiros, Civil Protection commander Rui Fernandes said the main concern was the forecast rise in temperatures and strengthening winds.
"Our concerns are the increase in temperature and the strengthening of the wind, both of which could lead to flare-ups. However, the operation has been planned and deployed to respond swiftly to any reactivation," he said.
Of the two aircraft still involved in the operation, one is assigned to firefighting duties and the other to aerial reconnaissance.
"We weren't expecting this, especially so soon after the start of summer. But the wind was incredibly strong. The firefighters tried to hold it back, but they couldn't. The fire raced up through the valley and reached Ameixial, leaving us with this scene of devastation. Ameixial has been stripped bare. Our landscape was one of our greatest attractions, and now it's gone. Everything is black," local councillor Abílio Sousa told journalists at TSF.
The head of Ameixial Parish Council said the village is now facing water shortages, with supplies insufficient to meet residents' needs.
"There isn't enough water for the population at the moment. We're waiting for tankers to arrive and refill the reservoir," he said.
Mr Sousa renewed calls for the construction of a long-planned dam, saying bureaucratic obstacles had left the community vulnerable.
"We've been fighting for a dam for the past two years, but we weren't allowed to build it. State agencies need to be more understanding, particularly the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF). They need to allow dams to be built in the right locations," he argued.
He also said the closure of the EN2 national road near Barranco do Velho, which has remained shut for the past year, had hampered firefighting operations and emergency access.
"I've been told that some fire crews reached the point where the road was closed, had to turn back, and ended up travelling more than twice the distance to reach the fire," he said, adding that he could not understand why the roadworks had taken so long.
Without substantial government support following the wildfire, he warned, the local community would be left to fend for itself.
"We're tough people. We're resilient. Together, with the support of the local council, the Government and all the authorities that can help us, we'll recover from this. We have to pick ourselves up and keep moving forward," he said.
Source: LUSA / TSF
Photo credit: @soldados_da_paz / Instagram
