The area burned this year almost tripled compared to 2024

The area burned this year almost tripled compared to the same period in 2024 and the number of rural fires increased by 68%, according to statistics from the Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR).

The SGIFR, under the responsibility of the Agency for Integrated Rural Fire Management (AGIF), has a new portal with information for the population and the media on the risk of fires, active fire occurrences and protection measures, as well as statistics on fires and the burned area.

The new portal indicates that between January 1st and July 11th (Friday), 3,202 rural fires broke out, consuming 9,974 hectares. In the same period last year, 1,902 fires had occurred and 3,246 hectares of land burned.

The data showed that the majority of rural fires were recorded this year in the North region, with 1,761, followed by Lisbon and Tagus Valley (521), Center (460), Alentejo (334) and Algarve (127).

The highest values of the burnt area were in Alentejo (4,616 hectares) and in the North (4,591), followed by the Center (602), Lisbon and Tagus Valley (145) and Algarve (21 hectares).

According to SGIFR statistics, 28% of fires occurred this year on days of 'very high' fire risk and 10% on days of “maximum” risk, while the flames consumed more burned area on days of 'maximum' (29%) and 'extreme' (17%) risk.

Although many fires are still being investigated, data indicate that 24% of fire incidents were caused by the use of fire and 12% by arson.