In the last two weeks, you may have read that Portugal has been grappling with devastating wildfires, a recurring problem exacerbated by the country's hot, dry summers. This year, the fires have been particularly severe in the North, with thousands of hectares of land scorched across the region. Overall, more than 121,000 hectares of land have burned in Portugal this year, a significant increase compared to previous years.
On our recent road trip, we had to divert our route due to several roads being closed as a result of the fires, and could smell the smoke in the air, and see it in the distance. These recent fires have ravaged forests and agricultural lands, threatening local communities and wildlife. The blazes have also created thick plumes of smoke, further complicating firefighting efforts and impacting air quality in nearby towns and cities.
The firefighting efforts in northern Portugal have been immense, involving a significant mobilization of resources. Thousands of firefighters have been deployed to battle the blazes, supported by hundreds of vehicles, aircraft, and even international assistance. Despite their efforts, the sheer scale of the fires have made it a daunting task to bring the situation under control.
As you can see from the screenshot from the app fogos.pt taken last week, the South of the country has coped well and been relatively lucky not to endure such huge fires this summer. The tireless dedication and bravery of Portugal´s firefighters, who risk their lives to protect both communities and land, are truly heroic and deserve our gratitude and admiration.
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