Portugal battles six blazes, raises fire alert as temperatures soar

Earth News: Portugal
Aug 29, 2006
LISBON (AFP) - More than 450 firefighters backed by 135 vehicles battled six wildfires, including four burning out of control, in Portugal as authorities lifted the national fire alert level because of rising temperatures. Nearly 200 firefighters and nine water-dropping aircraft were at the scene of the largest blaze which raged out of control in woodlands near the central town of Castelo Branco, the national firefighting service said.
Another fire near the central town of Santarem forced the cancellation of six trains, including one linking Lisbon to Paris, the national railway service CP said. It was being battled by 70 firefighters.
Earlier on Tuesday the national firefighting service raised the national fire alert to "yellow", the third-highest of four levels, because it said high temperatures, low air humidity levels and strong winds had increased the risk of wildfires.
The alert level will remain at "yellow" until Thursday. It was previously set at "blue", the lowest level.
The national weather office forecasts temperatures to soar to highs of up to 40 degrees Celius (104 Fahrenheit) in some parts of Portugal over the next two days.
Wildfires destroyed nearly 50,000 hectares (125,000 acres) of forest and scrubland between the start of the year and August 14, one-third the average amount ravaged by flames the previous five years, according to the latest government figures.
Most of the fire damage took place during a heatwave which swept the country during the first two weeks of August. {photo: Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire near Sever do Vouga, 300 Km North of Lisbon.}