Eleven municipalities in the districts of Guarda, Santarém, Portalegre and Faro are today at maximum rural fire danger, according to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). This maximum danger classification places these regions on critical alert for the occurrence of rural fires.
IPMA forecasts for today extremely high maximum temperatures across the mainland. Évora and Setúbal will reach 43 degrees Celsius, while Beja reaches 42 degrees, Santarém 41 degrees and Lisbon and Portalegre 40 degrees. The intense heat is the main cause of the high fire risk in these regions.
Authorities warn of the extreme danger of rural fire, especially in the municipalities most affected by the heat. The combination of high temperatures and weather conditions favorable to fire spread places pressure on civil protection services and firefighters across the country.
