Most of the firefighters who participated in the August forest fires in Madeira are unaware of the report that Civil Protection says it completed on the 16th of October. During the Assembly, the President of the Institute contradicted what Secretary Pedro Ramos said earlier and admitted that he kept the conclusions in the drawer for more than 40 days.
The President of the Regional Civil Protection Service of Madeira, António Nunes, said today that he had a “clear conscience” about fighting the August fire, stressing that “everything was done according to what was possible at the time.”
The official explained that the operations took place in order to safeguard lives, infrastructure, and the environment, in this order, and said he understood the suffering of those who saw their property destroyed or suffered damage and trauma during the fire, which, according to him, lasted 11 days and not 14 as reported.
“We have more than a clear conscience, we are sure that everything was done according to what was possible to do in those climatic and orographic conditions, without putting the rescue professionals at risk,” he declared.
António Nunes was speaking at a hearing in the commission of inquiry to ascertain political responsibilities in the forest fire that raged from the 14th to the 26th of August, in which he was heard jointly with the Regional Operational Commander of Civil Protection, Marco Lobato.
“The fire did not last 14 days, but 11, from the 14th to the 24th, when it was extinguished. What occurred until the 26th were re-ignition outbreaks,” he clarified.
The President of the Regional Civil Protection Service also indicated that the fire report has been ready since the 16th of October, but had not submitted it until now as it had not been requested.
António Nunes clarified, however, that the report brings together all the loose documentation already delivered to deputies, including the firefighting timeline.
This circumstance prompted criticism from some deputies, and Lina Pereira, from the JPP, considered it “serious” that the report has been completed since October, when the Regional Secretary for the sector, Pedro Ramos, declared in a hearing on the 29th of that month that the report had not yet been prepared.
The operational commander, Marco Lobato, after chronologically exposing the events, concluded that “everything was done in the first 24 hours” to control the fire, which was burning in an area of difficult access, in the parish of Serra de Água, in the municipality of Ribeira Brava, with the fight being carried out mainly by air, despite the adverse conditions resulting from the strong wind.
He further indicated that, between the 14th and 24th of August, the helicopter, the only air means permanently in Madeira, carried out a total of 361 water bombings, and the two Canadair aircraft, activated through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, carried out 26 missions between the 22nd and 23rd.
“In short, more than 1,000 operatives from all forces and fire brigades were mobilized in this period on a rotation basis, supported by 268 vehicles and three aerial means,” he said, stressing that, despite the violence and extension of the fire, there was no record of people injured, deaths, burned-out houses (not what was mentioned earlier) or destruction of essential infrastructure.
Regarding the burned area, 5,104 hectares, he said that the impact on the laurel forest, classified as a world heritage site, was “residual,” affecting 139 hectares, less than 1% of its total area.
The operational commander specified that about 90% of the area affected by the fire was difficult to access by land or did not offer minimum safety conditions for the operatives, and combat was possible only with aerial means.
However, the President of the Regional Civil Protection Service admitted failures in communication with journalists, but assured that there was only a single restriction on movement, in the parish of Curral das Freiras, which “was imposed by the danger of the scenario and as indicated by the Rescue Operations Command who was on site”.
António Nunes also explained that external help was never refused, as it was dependent on the evolution of the fire, so the request was only declared on the 17th of August, despite the fact that on that same day, the Regional Secretary said that only 10% of the regional staff was involved in the fighting.
The commission of inquiry to determine political responsibilities was requested by the PS and includes deputies from the seven parties with parliamentary representation – PSD, PS, JPP, Chega, CDS-PP, I,L and PAN – and is chaired by socialist deputy Sancha Campanella.
Although there were no reports of injuries or destruction of homes and essential public infrastructure, the damage to agriculture, livestock, and beekeeping affected about 200 producers.
Furthermore, the 120 residents of Fajã das Galinhas, in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, were evacuated and are still unable to return home.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
