Madeira trails have been closed due to the risk of forest fire in the region. Tourists are still ignoring these warning signs despite a lot of danger. It is noticed that more than two dozen people went to the Madeira trails even though warnings have been issued in the area.
Tourists Ignore Madeira Trails Warning
The Institute of Forests and Nature Conservation (ICNF) has released the warning not to visit the trails. This warning has been issued because a fire erupted in the forest a few days back. This fire was lit in the forest for 13 consecutive days which caused panic in the region. That is why the Madeira Trails are still under warning. People are not allowed to enter the forest at any cost.
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Manuel Filipe who is the current president of ICNF has spoken about this matter. He believes that the people that went to the forest are known to be tourists who didn’t want to miss the opportunity. He has reminded again about the severity of the situation and the amount of danger the Madeira Forest currently has. The President of ICNF further said that this is a punishable offense.
Fines Upon Breaking Forest Rules
It can be classified as a misdemeanor. Fines can be charged from 250 Euros to 500 Euros for individuals. If any company is found responsible, then a fine of 2500 to 10,000 Euros can be implemented. These fines are classified under the regional legislation decree. It can be implemented on anyone who is found guilty of walking on trails even when the trail is closed. He further said that some of the trails which are closed can be listed as follows:
- Pico do Areeiro-Pico Ruivo
- Achada do Teixeira-Pico Ruivo
- Pico Ruivo-Encumeada
- Encumeada-Jardim da Serra
- Paul da Serra Trail
All these five trails have been closed temporarily by the government. Manuel stated any kind of traffic is forbidden in the area. There will be constant supervision by the Forest Police throughout the time, the trails are closed. The supervision of Forest police has also been increased since some tourists broke the closed trail warning.
Manuel Filipe said that they are working to reopen these trails as soon as possible. He knows that there is usually a high demand for these trails. He further said that the institution might open the Pico do Areeiro partially. They are also looking to open the trail between Achada do Teixeira and Pico Ruivo if all standards are met.
Forest Fire Broke Out For 13 Days
A fire broke out on 14th August in Madeira Island. This fire occurred in the mountains of Ribeira Brava municipality. The fire further spread quickly to municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol and Santana. After 13 days of continuous fire in the forest, it was announced that the fire was extinguished successfully on 26th August.
The fire caused a lot of damage in the region. The European Forest Fire Information System has released data which indicates that around 5104 hectares of area was damaged and burned in the fire. Authorities had also instructed around 200 people to evacuate their homes. The authorities also provided safe shelters, but a lot of people chose to stay at home. The fire was dangerous because of heavy winds and increasing temperature in the region.
It has been informed by the authorities that there are no injuries caused due to the fire. There were no reports for any sort of destruction of homes or public places in the nearby area. There was slight damage in agriculture production which was located near the forest. The cause of fire is still being investigated but it is believed by some people that the cause of fire was arson.
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