Portugal's wildfire-burned area nearly quadruples every year amid extreme heat
Lisbon, July 7
The area burned in Portugal has nearly quadrupled compared with the same period last year, as extreme heat and elevated fire danger fueled a surge in rural fires across the country, according to official data.
Data from Portugal's Rural Fire Integrated Management System (SGIFR), obtained by Lusa news agency on Monday (local time), showed that 4,592 wildfires have been recorded nationwide so far this year, burning 30,155 hectares, more than half of the total burned area recorded between Wednesday and Sunday alone, reports Xinhua news agency.
Compared with the same period in 2025, the burned area has nearly quadrupled, reaching its highest level for the period since 2017. The number of wildfires has also increased by about 70 per cent year on year, marking the highest figure for the period since 2022.
Portugal has been experiencing exceptionally high temperatures since last week, triggering the highest-level red heat warning in several regions.
On Friday, the Portuguese government declared a nationwide state of alert, citing a "significant increase in the risk of rural fires."
Earlier on July 3, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro announced that Portugal will activate the European Civil Protection Mechanism and bilateral cooperation agreements with Spain and Morocco in response to an extreme heat wave that is driving severe wildfire risk across the country.
"We decided, at this point, to activate the European Civil Protection Mechanism and also the bilateral agreements with Spain and Morocco," Montenegro had said, stressing that the move was precautionary and that national capacity had not yet been exhausted.
He said that the goal was to avoid transferring firefighting assets between regions, citing a "significant deterioration in rural fire risk."
Twelve of Portugal's 18 mainland districts are currently under red alert due to extreme heat, with virtually the entire continental territory under elevated wildfire risk, reports Xinhua news agency.
The European Civil Protection Mechanism allows EU member states and other participating countries to request international assistance when national resources are insufficient or when they wish to reinforce response capacity preventively.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's a stark reminder that extreme weather is a global issue. But I wonder, how prepared are countries like Portugal for such disasters? The government declaring a state of alert and reaching out to EU and even Morocco shows they're proactive. We should take notes in India—our fire management systems need serious upgrades in dry zones.
As someone who loves visiting Europe, this is heartbreaking. Portugal is beautiful, and the thought of thousands of hectares burning is just devastating. I hope the international community, including India, can offer some help if needed. The need for global cooperation on climate resilience is more urgent than ever.
This is alarming but not surprising. Year after year, we see similar patterns—California, Australia, Greece, now Portugal. It's a systemic failure. While Portugal seeks EU help, I'm reminded of our own forest fires in Uttarakhand and Himachal. Prevention through better land management and early warning systems could save so much.
So sad to see this. I have friends in Lisbon who say it's like a furnace outside. The fact that burned area quadrupled shows how intense the heat must be. Hope everyone stays safe. 🙏
While we sympathize, let's also note the irony. The same European nations that lecture developing countries on climate action are now facing the consequences of fossil fuel dependence. India is pushing renewables hard, but maybe this crisis will push EU to accelerate Green Deal targets. Lives and ecosystems depend on it.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.