Fires: Air Force holds Civil Protection responsible for the location of aircraft

This week, the mayors of the municipalities of Grândola (CDU), in the district of Setúbal, and Ourique and Moura (both PS), in the district of Beja, warned, in statements to the Lusa news agency, about the lack of aerial resources to fight fires and called for an urgent solution. The placement of helicopters in the aerial resources centers of these three Alentejo municipalities (one in each municipality) was scheduled for the 1st of this month, within the scope of the Special Device for Fighting Rural Fires (DECIR) of 2025, which ended up not happening.

The lack of air resources in the district of Beja, where several rural fires broke out this week, has also been contested by the Intermunicipal Community of Alentejo Litoral (CIMAL) and the PS. “The responsibility of the Air Force is limited to the process of contracting air resources, with the location of their deployment being defined by ANEPC [National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority],” said the Portuguese Air Force (FAP), in a response sent to Lusa.

The National Operational Directive (DON) that establishes the DECIR foresees 76 aircraft for the period from June 1 to 30, called 'level Charlie'. However, only 67 aircraft are currently operational, since two of the 69 available are "inoperative for maintenance", according to ANEPC and FAP.

“A total of 69 aircraft are currently available to DECIR, including 47 helicopters and 22 aircraft. Of these, two light helicopters are temporarily unavailable to correct unexpected faults, which are the responsibility of the contracted companies themselves,” the Air Force states.

In a response sent to Lusa on Wednesday, Civil Protection reported that the light helicopters that are inoperative for maintenance are based at the Aerial Resources Centers (CMA) in Arcos de Valdevez (Viana do Castelo) and Santa Comba Dão (Viseu). In Arcos de Valdevez there is another helicopter that is operational.

Regarding the lack of aircraft in the Beja district, ANEPC did not provide any justification and the Air Force states that it is not responsible for the location. The FAP also told Lusa that “the contract for two light aircraft is expected to be signed by the end of the month”, meaning that the organization will have 71 aircraft available.

DECIR will be reinforced again on July 1, the period considered most critical for fires, and 79 aerial resources are expected to be available at that time. At the beginning of June, when the 'Charlie level' came into effect, a source from the sector told Lusa that the lack of aerial resources was related to the documentation needed to operate and the lack of candidates in the competitions.

At the end of May, the PJ indicted 12 defendants on suspicion of corruption related to public tenders for fighting fires. According to ANEPC, there are currently 36 light helicopters in operation based in the CMA of Arcos de Valdevez, Famalicão, Fafe, Chaves (2), Ribeira de Pena, Bragança, Alfandega da Fé, Baltar, Vale de Cambra, Vila Real, Armamar, Águeda, Viseu, Aguiar da Beira, Mêda, Guarda, Seia, Covilhã, Cernache, Lousã, Pampilhosa da Serra, Pombal, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Alcaria, Castelo Branco, Proença-a-Nova, Ferreira do Zêzere, Sardoal, Santarém, Lourinhã, Montijo, Évora, Monchique, Cachopo and Loulé. Five heavy helicopters located in the CMA of Macedo de Cavaleiros, Braga, Pombal, Ferreira do Zêzere and São Brás de Alportel and four reconnaissance, assessment and coordination helicopters in Vila Real, Lousã, Ponte de Sor and Beja are also available.

There are also 18 medium amphibious aircraft in Mirandela (2), Vila Real (2), Viseu (2), Cernache (2), Castelo Branco (2), Proença-a-Nova (2), Ponte de Sor (2), Beja (2) and Portimão (2). According to Civil Protection, two heavy amphibious aircraft are still active in Castelo Branco and two reconnaissance, assessment and coordination aircraft based at the CMA in Viseu and Ponte de Sor.