Figures released by the Regional Secretariat for Health and Civil Protection show that 302 fires have been recorded between the 1st of January and Saturday, 26th of September. Of those incidents, 253 were bush fires.
Câmara de Lobos recorded the highest number, with 71 fires, including 58 in bush areas. Followed by Ribeira Brava with 58, Santa Cruz with 46, Funchal with 42, Ponta do Sol with 31, Machico with 29 and Calheta with 14. The figures supplied list four for São Vicente and Santana combined, two for Porto Moniz and one for Porto Santo.
The Secretariat also presented historical figures showing fewer rural fires than in 2019, when 671 were recorded. Its helicopter flew 85 missions in 2025 and has flown 28 so far this year.
The fire figures come after an unusually warm summer. Average temperatures from June to August were above the 1991–2020 average at all four weather stations analysed. It was the third hottest summer recorded at Funchal Observatory and the second hottest in Porto Santo since 1961.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Views: 41
