Portugal firefighters stretched to limit in battle with wildfires

Deadly wildfires ravaging Portugal have pushed emergency services to the limit.

Desperately needed reinforcements will arrive from Spain and Morocco on Wednesday, the civil protection authority said.

Several people have died in the fires with dozens of houses destroyed – and tens of thousands of acres of land and forest consumed.

Portuguese politician and climate expert Duarte Costa told local media that 230 Spanish military personnel would be deployed in the central Viseu district, an area of “great concern”, with the reinforcements allowing for exhausted local firefighters to be rotated out and for aircraft maintenance.

Morocco is sending up to four heavy water-bombing aircraft that should also arrive in Portugal on Wednesday, he added.

Spain, Italy and France have already sent two of these aircraft each.

Over 5,000 Portuguese firefighters have been mobilized and are working tirelessly.

With people like Cristina Almeida offering support.

“We are trying to help the firefighters. We know they are very tired. As they don’t have access to food and water, we are trying to help, and it’s our way of thanking them.”

The government has declared a state of calamity in all municipalities affected by the wildfires, allowing civil protection agents to access private property.

Meteorologist Jorge Ponte told Reuters on Monday why the wildfires were so dangerous this time.

“We have very low humidity, high temperatures even near the sea. That is the big difference and of course the wind is strong, specially in the mountains and this is a build up of course of many situations, many parameters that combine together and create a cocktail of dangerous conditions.”

Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said a government team would coordinate the provision of “the most immediate and urgent support” to those who have lost their homes and livelihoods.

He said that some fires across Portugal have been caused by arsonists prompted by possible commercial interest, spite or criminal negligence.

Portugal’s national guard said it has arrested seven people since Saturday suspected of arson.