36 people arrested this year for the crime of setting forest fires

Thirty-six people were arrested this year for the crime of setting forest fires and 525 were identified, data from the GNR revealed today, according to which 2,979 fire crimes were recorded.

According to data from the GNR, up to July 31, the districts with the highest number of arrests are Vila Real (8), Porto (7), Guarda (5), Braga (4) and Leiria (4).

It is also highlighted, in a statement, that this year, 10,417 situations of lack of land cleaning were reported across the country.

"Given the increased risk of fires in vast areas of the country, caused by rising temperatures, strong winds, and low levels of relative humidity," the National Republican Guard states that it has "significantly strengthened its commitment to preventing and combating rural fires."

In this context, visibility patrols and surveillance are being intensified in forestry and agricultural areas at high, very high and maximum risk, through its Nature and Environmental Protection, Protection and Relief, Territorial and Criminal Investigation areas, with the aim of deterring negligent behavior and detecting suspicious situations early.

The GNR once again appeals to the population's sense of responsibility, highlighting the importance of avoiding actions that could trigger fires, such as smoking, making fires or bonfires, burning or setting fires, launching rockets and balloons with lit fuses.

It also calls for avoiding “fumigating or disinfecting apiaries, unless the fumigators are equipped with spark arresters”, and driving tractors, machinery and heavy transport vehicles that do not have a fire extinguisher, a spark arrester system or flame arresters on exhaust pipes or chimneys.

As a preventative measure, the GNR also recommends that the population monitor weather warnings and fire risk levels through official channels, “immediately inform the authorities (112) in the event of smoke or fire” and avoid unnecessary trips to forest areas on days of greatest risk.

Since February 16, the GNR has been carrying out the Safe Forest 2025 Campaign, through the execution of awareness-raising, inspection, surveillance and detection of rural fires, investigation of the causes of forest fire crimes and validation of burned areas.

The objective, he says, is to "prevent, detect, and combat rural fires and suppress illegal activities, seeking to guarantee the safety of the population and the preservation of forest heritage."

"Protecting the forest and its people is everyone's responsibility. Preventive action by every citizen is essential to avoid tragedies and preserve our natural heritage," he warns.

HN // JMC