Monchique council has won recognition in the ‘Council of the Year Awards 2015’ which compliments and highlights good practice and sensible thinking.
Monchique’s ‘Casas sem Fogo’ (houses without fire) programme was been selected as an outstanding contribution and fine example of civic action by the organisers UM-Cidades and Minho University.
In 2012, Monchique council in partnership with the civil defence body and the Institute for Nature Conservation created an awareness programme and support facilities as there was a crying need to protect isolated rural properties.
At the request of property owners, a multidisciplinary team including the above, plus the local fire department and GNR, provide support and guidance on clearing ground around the property to reduce the risks of houses burning down, on improving the safety of people living in forest areas and on promoting a culture of self-protection.
The fires that ravaged the Monchique district in 2003 and 2004 were hard to control with one of the main problems being the protection of individual properties that had neither been prepared nor protected adequately by their owners.
This meant physical resources being diverted to ‘at risk’ properties and away from fighting the main fire fronts.
Despite this effort, 118 countryside properties were damaged or destroyed in 2003 and a further 21 in 2004.
The Monchique programme has been copied by other Algarve councils and is seen by the organisations involved and the public as an invaluable safety measure for people living in forest areas and one that also increases fire service efficiency.
The council commented today that it members are proud that Monchique has been put forward for an award for yet another innovative project.
The prize giving ceremony takes place in Braga today with mayor Rui André finding time to attend.
Three further Algarve councils are competing for first place at the awards; Aljezur, Vila do Bispo and Vila Real de Santo António also submitted applications
