Portugal has formally requested that the European Union, Spain, and Morocco prepare additional firefighting aircraft to be deployed if wildfires escalate during the current heatwave, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro announced on Friday.
Speaking at a news conference in Lisbon, Montenegro emphasized that the request was not due to a lack of national resources but rather the exceptional nature of the coming days. “We believe it is better to receive support from our EU allies and closest neighbors than to divert resources from other parts of the country where they are currently deployed,” he said. He explained that Lisbon had activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and bilateral agreements with Spain and Morocco to ensure rapid assistance if needed.
Red Weather Warnings and State of Alert
Parts of mainland Portugal are under red weather warnings issued by the national weather agency IPMA, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in some districts. The entire mainland remains under a state of alert until late Monday. Authorities have imposed restrictions including limited access to certain forest areas, a ban on forestry work using machinery, and a prohibition on farmers conducting controlled burns.
Active Wildfires and Firefighting Efforts
By Friday, civil protection authorities reported that more than 2,800 firefighters, supported by 864 vehicles and 32 aircraft, were battling six active wildfires across the country. The largest blaze was burning in the central district of Viseu. Montenegro noted that the pre-emptive request for international support aims to ensure that firefighting resources are not stretched thin if conditions worsen.
