Madeira Faces Extreme Fire Risk as Heatwave Persists

Extreme Fire Risk in Madeira

The island of Madeira is currently facing a maximum and very high risk of rural fires in several regions, as reported by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA). The north and south coasts and mountainous areas are under a yellow warning due to the ongoing hot weather.

Continued Danger

Madeira will continue to experience areas under maximum and very high fire risk in the coming days. A rural fire has been raging for six days, affecting both Madeira and Porto Santo, and the yellow weather warning is in effect until 18:00 today due to the forecast of hot weather.

Weather Forecast

The IPMA predicts very cloudy skies today with a chance of light showers in the northern slopes and highlands of Madeira and Porto Santo until early morning. Winds are expected to be light to moderate from the northeast, with strong gusts reaching up to 60 kilometers per hour in the highlands and eastern and western extremes of Madeira.

Temperature Conditions

In Funchal, temperatures are expected to range from 22 to 28 degrees Celsius, while in Porto Santo, they will be between 22 and 27 degrees Celsius.

Ongoing Fire Situation

The rural fire ignited on Wednesday in the Ribeira Brava mountains and spread to Câmara de Lobos the following day, reaching Ponta do Sol by the weekend. As of Sunday, 160 people were evacuated from their homes, with many returning, except for residents of Fajã das Galinhas in Câmara de Lobos.

Active Fire Fronts

By Monday evening, the fire had two active fronts in Encumeada (Ribeira Brava) and Paul da Serra (Ponta do Sol), leading to the evacuation of about 60 people from Furna (Ribeira Brava) to a local sports pavilion.

Firefighting Efforts

Over 40 firefighting vehicles and more than 150 firefighters from Madeira, the Azores, and mainland Portugal are involved in combatting the flames, alongside aerial support from the Regional Civil Protection Service. Despite the challenges posed by wind and high temperatures, there have been no reports of destruction of homes or essential infrastructure, although one firefighter was treated for exhaustion.

Scale of the Fire

Projections from the European Forest Fire Information System indicate that 7,000 hectares have burned since the start of the fire. The Regional Government President, Miguel Albuquerque, suspects arson but has not disclosed the causes yet.