Portugal Chama: preventing forest fires

When temperatures rise in the summer months, we’re confronted with haunting orange and red images every time we turn on the TV, scroll through social media or open a newspaper – it is our forests, once lush and green, being devastated by fires.

A forest fire, also called wildfire, is an unplanned and uncontrolled combustion, with negative consequences for people, biodiversity and, above all, forests and agricultural land.

All over the world, 2023 was a ‘dark’ year, with large fires recorded in both North America and several South American countries. It was also a particularly difficult year for the Mediterranean region – in 2023, Greece faced the biggest fire ever in Europe.

In Portugal, talking about forest fires means going back to the tragic year of 2017, the worst in almost a century. First in the Pedrógão Grande area and, in October, in the Leiria pine forest and the regions of Coimbra, Viseu and Castelo Branco. The idyllic landscape of the Serra do Açor was one of the worst affected, but its reforestation project is already underway. 2022 was also a remarkable year, with the flames devastating around 25 per cent of the Serra da Estrela Natural Park.

Portugal is a fire risk zone

Despite its temperate climate, the Iberian Peninsula is vulnerable to high temperatures and low rainfall during the summer. In addition to these natural factors, which are conducive to the outbreak of forest fires, there are others such as rural depopulation, the lack of local prevention actions in less hot periods, the scarcity of land management policies and adequate means of firefighting, and the lack of awareness among the population in areas and periods of greater risk. Unfortunately, man-made wildfires, either accidental or intentional, are also significant.

An increasing consciousness of risk factors, such as the Portugal Chama campaign, together with the consequences of the 2017 tragedy, has increased awareness among the populations and prompted changes in the way Portuguese authorities prevent and manage forest fires. Comparing the period from 2007 to 2017 with the period from 2018 to 2022, the average number of fires in Portugal has halved and there has also been a decrease in the average number of ignitions on days of greater fire danger.

The national awareness and mobilization campaign Portugal Chama, created by the Agency for Integrated Fire Management (AGIF) aims to educate and alert the population to wildfires, and to prevent their occurrence.

On the official website of the Portugal Chama initiative, there is advice, warnings, and clarifications on the best practices to prevent wildfires in Portugal.

From motorway tollbooths to television ads, radio spots, and posters in Pingo Doce and Recheio stores across the country, the Portugal Chama campaign is back this summer, with a new concept: ‘Prevention starts with you. It starts with everyone’.

Once again, the goal is to show citizens that prevention is in everyone’s hands, raising awareness to potential fire-causing situations, such as camping, picnics, clearing land, carrying out burnings and bonfires, as well as to give out information on safety measures in case of fire.

During the summer months, the fire risk is often High, Very High, and Maximum. It is important that those who are close to the countryside or forest beware of the risk. This piece of advice applies to those who live or work in the countryside, and also to those who enjoy visiting or vacationing there.

You can check the daily risk of wildfires by region and municipality on the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF) website, via the ICNF’s dedicated app, or on the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) website.

Children have an incredible ability to persuade and influence adults, and this uncanny ability can be a precious help in changing behaviours – just think about how children helped drive recycling. Children can have powerful roles in helping to reduce negligent fires, which account for more than half of fires in Portugal. That is why the Portugal Chama campaign also aims to raise wildfire awareness among children.

Raposa Chama (“the fox is calling”) is the motto of this initiative targeted at children between the ages of 5 and 12. They too can become ambassadors for this cause and set an example for everyone through school, teachers, and family. With that goal in mind, Students are invited to undertake challenges and activities.

• 85% of fires start within 500 meters of a road, or inhabited or cultivated areas?
• In Portugal, between 2012 and 2021, 41% of fires were due to the negligent use of fire (through bonfires and burning) and 28% were intentional (incendiarism)?
• Portugal is the European country that’s most seriously affected by fires – since the 1890s, it has faced the most accidental wildfires and lost the most hectares to fires?
• On average, over 3% of Portugal’s forest area burns every year?

If the weather is hot, dry, and windy – and the risk of wildfire is maximum:

• Do not use, set off, or throw fireworks.
• Do not make campfires or bonfires in or near the countryside or forest.
• Do not burn waste or rubbish.
• Do not use electric or petrol agricultural machinery, in order to prevent sparks.
• Do not use barbecues or firepits for cooking.

Other general recommendations:

• Don’t throw cigarette butts to the ground.
• Have barbecues or bonfires only in places where they are explicitly allowed.
• Make sure to put out completely any small fire (in barbecues, firepits, etc), even in places where they are specifically allowed.
• Make sure the ground around a camp is clear and that the exit is unobstructed.
• Keep a fire extinguisher in your camper van.
• Do not cook inside camping tents.
• Do not light candles or smoke inside tents and caravans.
• Always be informed of the risk of wildfire for the day.

Prevention starts with you. It starts with everyone.