On September 11, 2024, a wildfire broke out near Seixal, Portugal. The fire is spreading very quickly and raising serious concerns about the homes, businesses, and a nearby NATO munitions storage facility. The fire was initially started by a car fire on the A33 motorway.
But now fire quickly grew out of control when it spread to the surrounding scrubland. Strong winds made the situation worse by accelerating the spread of the flames and making the condition worse.
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Firefighters Battle Intense Winds And Flames
There were strong northwesterly winds reaching the fire at speeds of up to 75 kilometers per hour. This wind made the wildfire spread quickly and difficult to control in the early stages.
There are over 300 firefighters across the Setúbal Peninsula and neighboring areas that were mobilized to control the blaze. They are working the whole day and night. These fire crews were also supported by firefighting aircraft to help contain the flames.
Fire Chief Miguel Silva spoke about how difficult it was to battle the fire. But he reassured the public that firefighters were doing everything they could to prevent it from spreading further
Homes And NATO Facility At Risk
There was a real danger for the people living in the nearby area as the fire approached through scrubland. It is reported that only one home was affected by the wildfire but it is unclear yet how badly it was affected.
Other buildings like a fuel station, a supermarket, and most importantly a NATO munitions store in Fernão Ferro are in real danger still. Emergency teams are working to control the fire and to protect these buildings. If fire catches them, there is huge risk of destruction.
Sub-regional commander for the Setúbal Peninsula branch of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority ANEPC, Sérgio Moura said that
The aim now is to consolidate the hot spots, extinguish some of the remaining outbreaks and consolidate the aftermath, as yesterday, today is forecast to be a very windy day and we need to be on the lookout for possible reactivations.
Firefighters Contained The Fire
By the early hours of September 12, firefighters finally started to control the fire. At around 2:55 a.m., Sérgio Moura confirmed that the fire was contained. The flames had reached the town of Lagoa Pequena in Sesimbra but were no longer threatening homes.
However, firefighters have been ordered to be on high alert. They worked to fully extinguish hot spots and prevent flare-ups, especially with winds expected to remain strong throughout the day.
He also added;
We don’t have any victims to report at the moment, nor any damaged homes. We do have five civilian vehicles that have burned.
The situation can be far worse because of the size of the fire and the strong winds. It was very important that firefighters and other emergency teams responded quickly and worked together to reduce the damage that occurred.
Response And Ongoing Monitoring
The response to the fire involved a wide range of agencies, including the GNR, PSP, the Special Civil Protection Force, and the Red Cross. Local municipalities in Seixal and Sesimbra also joined the effort and worked closely with firefighters to make sure the fire did not spread further.
Earth movers and aerial support also played a crucial role in keeping the fire contained within the forested perimeter.
Perhaps the most concerning part was that the fire was very close to a NATO munitions storage facility managed by the Portuguese Navy. If the flames reached the depot, the consequences would be disastrous.
Fortunately, military personnel took all necessary precautions to protect the storage unit and also ensure it remained safe despite the danger.
The fire is now under control but firefighters and emergency personnel have been ordered to remain on high alert. There is still risk because of the strong winds but teams are carefully monitoring for any signs of reactivation.
The next few days will be critical in making sure the fire is completely extinguished especially with the more windy weather forecast.
Even though the worst seems to be over. People and the government in Seixal and Sesimbra are still being careful because wildfire near Seixal can start up again at any time, especially when it’s dry and windy.
