Portuguese National Service for Fire and Civil Protection

Portuguese National Service for Fire and Civil Protection Topics of presentation: 17/09/03 Rui Almeida Luciano Lourenço Portuguese National System of Civil Protection. What happens in the hot Summer of 2003. The causes of Forest Fires The critical period day by day ralmeida@snbpc.pt lucianol@ci.uc.pt

Portuguese National System of Civil Protection The Portuguese Civil Protection System integrates: - National Service for Fire and Civil Protection (SNBPC), with 18 Coordination Centres that are based on each of the 18 Portuguese districts. - Regional Services for Civil Protection (SRPCB) (Azores, Madeira) - Municipal Services for Civil Protection (SMPC). - Agents: Firemen Services, the security forces (Police and National Guards), the Armed Forces, the Maritime and Aeronautics Authorities, and the National Institute for Medical Emergency (INEM). - Other entities like Meteorological institute, Forest Service,etc.

What happens in the hot Summer of 2003 6000 Burnt Area by day 37.03 18.03 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000

Meteorological Conditions Very high maximum temperatures (over 40º C) during 18 days in some inland areas (mainly in Centre) Very high minimum temperatures (over 23º C) during the evening Very low values of humidity (less than 30%) Very dry east winds Dry storms

Causes for the Ignition of forest fires v Negligent behaviour Soil renewal for shepherds Agricultural machinery Pyrotechnical devises Smokers v Intentional causes v Natural causes - lightning v Unknown causes

Social causes for happens big forest fires v Rural exodus v Change in traditional agricultural practices v Absenteeism of the forest owners v Wrong landuse of forest areas Forest Degradation

The critical period day by day

Total Area 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 37.03 Day 27 July 18.03 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 30.5 0.2 25.3 0.2 4.7 Media 314.6 0.3 11.3 153.5 Área Media Ardida 3.5 14.6 3.5 0.6 3.7 4.0 2.0 6.4 27-Jul-03 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 1 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)27.07.0830

Total Area 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 37.03 Day 28 July 18.03 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 178.3 2.7 50.3 0.3 3.2 Media 2961.2 Área Media Ardida 4.5 7.0 3.5 21.0 42.1 3.5 16.566.6 4.2 0.2 2.0 20.8 28-Jul-03 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 2 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)28.07.0835-70

Total Area 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 37.03 18.03 Day 29 July 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 219.2 1.9 25.1 8.0 2.8 Media Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 3 3230.1 Área Media Ardida 3.3 93.0 149.5 21.8 144.7 0.5 5.9 59.1 0.8 0.6 10.1 188. 29-Jul-03 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)29.07.08372248171832

Total Area 37.03 18.03 600 500 4330.5 5528.5 37.03 1000 400 2000 3000 300 4000 5000 6000 Day 30 July 200 100 4.5 106.6 48.9 3.8 nça 937.8 7.7 97.1 221.6 6.4 136.7 20.1 0.9 3.7 14.2 211.7 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 6 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)37.0838-

Total Area 1000 2000 37.03 18.03 2500 2000 1500 20173.2 3000 4000 1000 5000 6000 Day 31 July 500 2618.2 2.6216.626.5 6.2 6.3 3.0 2.8 954.4 7.7 17.1 nça 31.5 1308.2 6.1 0.1 10.739.6 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 8 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)31.07.0838-

Total Area 37.03 18.03 1200 1000 9475.2 11399.8 1000 800 2000 3000 600 4000 5000 6000 Day 1 August 400 200 3.7 408.1 14.3 5.6 nça 2029.5 131.0 911.7 2.8 11.9130.5 0.6 923.8 256.5 0.2 17.077.7 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 18 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)402

Meteorology - Dry Storms August, 2

Total Area 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 37.03 18.03 Day 2 August 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 40 12.2 506.1 21.440.7 nça 14844.6 132.8 5209.1 5.0 509 1060.8 1525.0 11762.6 18.6 8041.1 6079.2 4.1 14.0145.6 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)38-3

Total Area 37.03 18.03 1200 1000 11184.7 10901.9 11187.3 1000 800 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 Day 3 August 600 400 200 2.4 420.6 27.1 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 41 3319.4 nça 138.0 3959.3 4.8 2346.2 1049.3 1058.5 36.6 3142.4 19.0 558.3 223.1 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)37-6

Meteorology - Temperature

Total Area 1000 37.03 18.03 1400 1200 1000 12186.4 10901.9 2000 3000 4000 800 600 5400.9 5000 6000 Day 4 August 400 200 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 31 0.1 459.1 1362.5 5.6 nça 134.3166.70.2 2722.7 1049.9804.1 31.6 1031.7 3.0 390.8 135.4 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)36-

Total Area 1000 37.03 18.03 1400 1200 1000 12403.5 2000 3000 800 7012.7 7419.7 4000 5000 600 6000 Day 5 August nça 400 200 0.9 35.1 13.3 2259.2 128.7 0.2 2635.0 1043.7 382.3 24.2 276.0 3.2 429.9 154.6 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 30 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)36-53-18

Total Area 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 37.03 18.03 Day 6 August 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 2.8 25.1 23.1 18.3 nça 3131.9 13 1.0 1858.3 389.2 18.6 5322.5 17.8 8034.4 275.5 0.3 737.9159.4 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 17 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)382

Principal Burnt Areas Médias Diárias de Área Ardida por Distrito Os três distritos mais afectados 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 37.03 18.03

Total Area 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 37.03 18.03 Day 7 August 500 450 400 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 nça 417.9 0.9 25.3 65.0 3107.3 138.0 55.3 0.5 1016.2960.2 4.8 1832.1 83.1 4321.7 5.6 1.5 120.9 508.9 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 14 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)392

Total Area 37.03 18.03 250 200 2196.7 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 Day 8 August 150 100 50 175.3 1.9 41.2 nça 592.9 1528.7 146.5 53.3 24.5 1002.5 1064.5 0.9 94.7 558.3 6.0 55.6 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 10 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)38-340.7

Total Area 37.03 18.03 250 200 2110.2 1000 2000 150 1348.5 3000 4000 5000 6000 Day 9 August 100 50 1.0 175.1 26.4 nça 583.5 6.8 53.3 19.5 295.8 591.0 1.1 67.1 363.7 4.9 19.9 274.2 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 6 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)38-

Total Area 37.03 18.03 250 200 2112.7 18.03 1000 2000 3000 150 1338.1 4000 5000 6000 100 Day 10 August nça 50 0.1 26.1 16.4 269.4 6.7 275.0 346.0 12.3 179.1 49.8 40.5 31.5 16.3 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 6 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)18.0338-5

Total Area 37.03 18.03 250 200 2113.7 1000 2000 3000 150 4000 5000 6000 100 Day 11 August nça 50 31.1 23.2 9.3 136.1 8.7 1.0 415.0 84.8 1.0 62.5 12.6 3.5 13.3 233.6 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 4 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)382 9.1

Total Area 37.03 18.03 120 100 1057.8 1000 2000 80 687.2 3000 4000 5000 6000 Day 12 August nça 60 40 20 0.3 271.1 134.1 100.8 24.0 8.6 1.0 1.8 11.3 95.3 34.2 4.5 1.4 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 1 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)39-4 411.1 25.9

Total Area 37.03 18.03 30 25 270.1 1000 2000 20 176.8 3000 4000 15 130.9 5000 6000 Day 13 August nça 10 5 7.6 55.9 9.3 9.9 7.0 1.0 0.8 10.9 5 15.8 48.4 0.3 15.4 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 0 44.2 24.1 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)38-4

Total Area 37.03 18.03 40 35 30 300.6 380.5 293.9 1000 2000 25 3000 4000 20 5000 6000 15 Day 14 August 10 5 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 1 1.1 25.1 9.7 9.5 nça 1.3 DataEstacão 2.0 26.4 1.0 39.6 36.1 6.6 70.5

Total Area 37.03 18.03 40 35 30 281.8 373.5 1000 2000 25 20 3000 4000 5000 6000 15 Day 15 August 10 5 Nº of Fires with more then 1000 ha of Burnt Area: 1 0.2 25.1 0.1 9.7 nça 0.2 3.4 2.9 21.4 2.9 DataEstacãoMax. Temp. (ºC)Min. Temp. (ºC)Max.HR. (%)Min.HR. (%)Max.IntVento(Km/h)Min.IntVento(Km/h)271 39.0 0.1 3.6 24.7 7.8

Consequences: More than 15.500 forest fires, since the beginning of the year (average value 22.000). More than 4000 hectares of burned area, since the beginning of the year (average value 98.500 ha). More than 242.000 hectares of burned area only between 28 th July and 3 rd August. 135 big forest fires (burned area > 100 ha), which represent about 3000 hectares (82% of total burned area).

% of Forest area affected by district 25.00 20 % Área de Floresta ardida estimada (0.7*area ardida/ área florestal *100) 15.00 10 17.89 23.62 15.70 5.00 6 0.99 0.66 4.51 0.47 2.25 3.38 7.39 0 0.59 0.99 14.36 2.98 0.32 1.96 1.11

Most affected areas.