Bombeiros

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:17 pm

Is it true that some firemen were killed in forest fires near Guarda? H said he heard about it on BBC news this morning. He thinks it was 5 or 6 men and that all but one were volunteers from Chile. Wondered if it was on your news there?
Fingers crossed, you seem to be okay in Algarve so far this summer, regarding fires I think? I hope it remains so.

martin · Post by **martin** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 10:24 pm

heres some info on it

Six Firefighters Killed in Intense Forest Fire in Northern Portugal

Six firefighters - five Chileans and one Portuguese - died on Sunday when they were caught by flames as they fought a forest fire in northern Portugal, officials said.

Police later arrested a man on suspicion of starting the fire. It was unclear whether the case was being considered as arson.

The firefighters were enveloped by flames when the wind suddenly changed, firefighting commander Gil Martins said, adding only an inquiry would determine the full causes of the accident.

"Forest fires are treacherous and unpredictable," Martins said at a news conference. "This is a mountainous area with local winds and something went wrong. Only an inquiry will say what," he added.

By late evening the fire, which broke out in the afternoon, was still being fought by 171 firefighters, 42 fire trucks and two airborne water tankers.

The ministry of Internal Administration has already opened an inquiry into the deaths, officials said.

These are the first fire deaths in Portugal in 2006.

Last year, wildfires scorched 325,000 hectares (800,000 acres) of forest and killed 21 people during Portugal's worst drought on record. Police arrested more than 100 people on suspicion of arson.

In 2003 - the worst for wildfires in two decades - fire consumed 425,000 hectares (1 million acres) and killed 18 people.

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:15 pm

Thanks for that report Martin....that is tragic news poor fellows. God rest them.
Lets hope there won't be any more such fires in Portugal this summer.

nite

Ellie · Post by **Ellie** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:32 pm

Must say, I was surprised at the little response to this happening?

From what I've read recently,on a post from lady who lives northwards, that already French and Spanish help is being brought in to help the beleagued Bombeiros of Portugal.
You would think that after the dreadful fires of last year and those of 2003, that more money would be put into the fire services there?
What happened to all the EU funding?
I pray to God they won't be needed in Algarve, though I have read of couple fires in Loule and Paderne area?
I only hope those poor blokes who died, their families receive financial help as well as the emotional support.

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:54 pm

Ellie wrote:What happened to all the EU funding?
I pray to God they won't be needed in Algarve, though I have read of couple fires in Loule and Paderne area?
I only hope those poor blokes who died, their families receive financial help as well as the emotional support.

I am with you on this Ellie, having experienced fires first hand in Spain a few years ago now, we were evacuated from our villa when the fires were visible from our windows and we could hear the 'crackling' of the burning, it was very scary.

Also, we have experienced the fires in the Algarve for the past three years.

It is very sad that these firefighters have lost their lives and that, no doubt, more will, what did happen to all the promises from last year and the EU money???