Clarification on news of firefighting media

MIL OSI-C. Mediterranean Region: Portugal

Following the news of the newspaper Expresso, with the title “Less means to combat fireworks”, the Ministry of Internal Affairs clarifies:

The firefighting device scheduled for October 15 has 35 more air resources compared to the same period of 2017.

This arrangement was extended by a decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs until October 15, in the face of meteorological forecasts: above average temperatures for this time of year and low probability of precipitation, a framework that should lead to the maintenance of the risk of forest fires at high levels.

In that sense, the critical period under the National Forest Fire Protection System was extended until October 15 and it was decided to extend the fire fighting device to the Level IV Operational Commitment Level (Reinforced Level IV), which ended on September 30.

Thus, between October 1 and 15, the device will have 53 air assets, that is, 19 more than those provided in the Operational Directive 2018 for that period.

The three contracts whose validity period will be extended until October 15 ended on September 30. These contracts concern 21 light and medium helicopters. Considering the operational evaluation according to the meteorological forecasts and the level of risk, it was decided to extend until October 15 the activity of 19 of these aircraft.

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