Perilous Times and Climate Change
Portugal: firefighters battling 26 forest blazes
The Associated Press
Saturday, August 14, 2010; 10:07 AM
LISBON, Portugal -- Officials say more than 600 firefighters are
battling at least 26 serious wildfire outbreaks fanned by gusting winds
in three separate areas of Portugal.
The civil protection authority says fires with several active fronts
have flared up and are being fought near southwestern Sintra, close to
the northern border with Spain and in the central Serra da Estrela
natural park.
Around 250 firefighters are focusing on the park, employing 76 fire
engines and two helicopters, while just north of the beauty spot 180
are fighting more blazes, backed up by six water-spraying aircraft, the
authority said in a statement Saturday.
Wildfires are common in Portugal during summer and almost 10,000
fighters and 56 aircraft are on standby this year. Two firefighters
died earlier this month.