The National Civil Protection Authority warned on Friday that there is a "very high risk of fires" as temperatures in the Algarve soar yet higher to the officially predicted temperature of 38°C this weekend, (that's 100°F in old money).

This hot weather "is cause for alarm" according to the Authority which stated today that "For the next 48 hours, there is a very high risk of maximum fire in the northern and central parts of the interior and in the southern region, particularly in the Algarve."

After seven unbelievable days, the hideous wildfire that started with catastrophic consequences in Pedrógão Grande is close to being declared “extinct”.

Fronts that have been raging in the boroughs of Góis and Pedrógão Grande are already dubbed ‘extinct’, and others are “just a few steps away” reports CMTV this morning.

The EN236 road, between Figueiró dos Vinhos and Castanheira de Pêra, has become known as the ‘road of death’.

This picture shows the horror lived by so many people desperate to escape the blaze. Many of them were killed.
Photo: MIGUEL A. LOPES/LUSA

With today officially ending Portugal’s period of national mourning for the hideous deaths and suffering caused by Pedrógão Grande’s monster blaze, the president of the country’s league of firemen has revealed he has “strong convictions” a “criminal hand” was at play.

Jaime Marta Soares has confirmed that he is ready and willing to share his information with PJ detectives probing the cause of fires that are still alight this evening - five days since Pedrógão Grande hit the headlines for the worst possible reasons.

Having seen the horrendous Grenfell Tower disaster we are only too aware of the heartache and total decimation of a community.

Our beloved Portugal has suffered its own devastating disaster with the loss of many lives in the centre of country near Coimbra and Leiria. Please help the appeal during these three days of national mourning.

CLICK HERE to go to JustGiving to make a donation.

Amovate have again been asked to advertise an appeal for the Bombeiros. This is initially for supplies for the Aljezur Bombeiros, but if their personnel are required to cover other areas, or if another area is desperate for supplies, then these will be used.
Sally Henman is the co-ordinator for the Aljezur Bombeiros, and they will contact her to co-ordinate the dispatch of what and when is required. If you need to speak to Sally, her number is 927 722 476.

The Aljezur Bombeiros have asked that people DO NOT directly drop off supplies as they have no storage. Donations of items listed below can be dropped off at the Amovate Old School House in Vales.

** SMALL Waters

** High Energy Snacks & Drinks

** Non Perishables

** Socks

** Towels

** Burn Cream

One of the nine Canadair fire-fighting planes in action in central Portugal has crashed over Pedrógão Grande, killing its British pilot.

According to CMTV the plane was Spanish, but the channel's newspaper Correio da Manhã suggests it was not one of the two planes loaned by Spain to Portugal.

Portugal’s “aeronautic cluster” is pinning its hopes on the Paris Airshow taking place this week in Le Bourget (airport) exhibition centre, and running until Sunday.

Explains Economia online, AED (standing for the aeronautic, space and defence cluster) has “enormous growth potential”. The only thing standing in its way is “a lack of technicians, and the small size of the companies involved”.

Thus, pressure is on for Portugal’s cluster to ‘make its mark’: forge contracts, impress investors.

A week after they were swept out to sea as they ran into the water to recover a football, the bodies of missing friends Ricardo Costa and Daniel Pereira have been finally recovered. By chance, both bodies washed up onto the same beach (Praia de Paramos) within hours of each other. Maritime police, GNR, the Air Force, firefighters and lifeguards had been searching the coast for eight days.

Article by kind permission of http://portugalresident.com/