The coordination of firefighting operations that ravaged Madeira for 13 days has intensified the tension between firefighters and the Civil Protection.
In performance terms the centralised management deserved criticism on the ground, resurfacing old divergences such as the payment of support to volunteers or the cut in the allowances of liaison officers in POCIR. Rafaela Fernandes wants to investigate the damage by the weekend. Pedro Fino warns that the slopes “are more vulnerable.” Dinarte Fernandes indicates that the Pico Ruivo-Areeiro connection will take months to reopen. Célia Passegueiro suggests a “much larger firebreak” in Ponta do Sol.
Ricardo Nascimento states the fires caused 1 million euros of damage in Ribeira Brava.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
