What a tragedy! Poor People! (considered to be deserving of pity or sympathy.) How horrible!
By the seventh day, the perimeter of the fire in the Algarve already exceeds 100 kilometers. The fire situation in Monchique and Silves is on a quieter Thursday, with no active fronts, but some "hot spots", according to the Civil Protection, which warns of the possibility of reactivations during the afternoon.
The 2nd National National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC) national commander, who spoke to journalists in Monchique on Thursday, said the wind should blow moderately during the afternoon, but with the possibility of bursts.
The number of injured has risen to 36, one of which is serious, with 19 being firefighters, said Patrícia Gaspar.
In update
Fire Hazard is due to an Excess Of Eucalyptus
This is a translation of Green Savers Article - Original in Portuguese Here
Monchique's fire has been plowing since last Friday and there are no signs of wanting to quit. The latest civil protection information shows that the fire is still out of control, despite the 1205 firefighters, 374 vehicles and 14 airborne outfits to fight the flames.
In a statement, Quercus indicates that the high fire hazard in this area is mainly due to the existing eucalyptus trees, despite the accumulation of dead manta in this area. The NGO indicates that the behavior of fire in existing eucalyptus stands projected incandescent particles several kilometers, causing secondary fires that disperse the means of combat and reduce its effectiveness. Quercus also indicates that much of the area affected by fire in the Sierra de Monchique is part of the Community Importance Site - Monchique, of the Natura 2000 Network.
This NGO explains that based on data from the National Forest Inventory, in 2010, the area of eucalyptus in the Algarve was close to 30,000 hectares, the great majority in the Monchique Mountains and surrounding areas, and this monoculture increased in recent years in this region, similarly of the rest of the national territory. In Monchique, eucalyptus is the dominant tree, with 13,888 ha (72.4%) of the forest area of the county, followed by the arbutus with 4,679 hectares and the cork oak with 2,210 hectares. Quercus considers that the eucalyptus patch should be reduced by 10% or more in order to promote forest management with discontinuities and stands more resilient to fire.
In August 2003, 41 thousand hectares were burned in the Serra de Monchique and today more than 20 thousand hectares have already burned, and the fire has not yet been extinguished. Quercus believes that after this phase of combat and the necessary support to victims, policymakers have to choose the best development model for the Algarve, which, according to the NGO, implies landscapes dominated by cork oak, arbutus and other native hardwoods, more resilient to fire and promoters of biodiversity and conservation of soil, water and landscape.
Portugal and The phenomenon of buyers of burned land
https://portugalglorioso.blogspot.com/2018/08/os-compradores-de-terra-queimada-de-que.html
The phenomenon of buyers of land appears after the fires. After being sold, these lands are resold to companies related to celluloses.
(...) And there are entities that appear to, against the will of the populations, to make parcellationss, with the aim of hunting European subsidies. All this exists in our country and is rarely mentioned. There are a lot of people who are afraid to mention these things. None of this is discussed in Parliament.
(José Gomes Ferreira)
Portugal burning: An Organized crime of mass destruction!
This is a translation of Sic News Channel - Original in Portuguese Here
In most cases, the fire appears at night, or from six in the afternoon when the wind blows at maximum and fighting the flames becomes more difficult. There is no longer any doubt for most people on the ground that it is a criminal hand. Strangely, however, the government keeps talking about lack of cleanliness and prevention, rarely speaks of criminal intent, and never admits the hypothesis of organized crime.
The business of the Week - Intervention by Clemente Pedro Nunes, a professor at Instituto Superior Técnico: This is a very serious situation. The number of ignitions is absurd: 10 times more than in other countries. If we compare the burned area in Portugal and Spain, the incidence factor in Portugal is 25 times higher than in Spain. We have reached an absurdity! (...) We can not have another year, or two, like this. The destruction of property, social destruction, the demographic destruction that is happening in tens of thousands of kilometers in Portuguese territory is unacceptable. "
The Opinion Of A Firefighter about what is Happening in Monchique
"Want to put out the fire, just remove the 4 element (Politics) the management of these fires depends on the civil protection, please stop all the bullshit !!! Firefighters have always been aware of fires.
Take off the orange vests from the command posts and wear red and blue uniforms, Firefighters study and train to think to manage and have the balls in place to make quick and simple decisions, not depending on superior guidelines.
Formerly there were fires of this magnitude and were resolved with the greatest fighting force (Firefighters).
I have been present in this theater of operations and I feel that the firefighters are being victims of a fun maneuver on the part of the government, strange when I see groups of combat with VFCIs and tanks vehicles stopped without attributed mission, and at the same time I see special forces to work and no hands to measure to solve some sensitive points.
I see the media passing GNR images at work, what do they want to convey with these things?
Does the Portuguese government want to justify anything?
I see the media outraged to project elements of the Gips Force to sleep on the floor of a pavilion, in 25 years of firefighters someone worried where the firemen rest ??
But had not Costa (Portuguese Prime Minister) prepared everything?
New vehicles, about 1500 GNR equipped with the best equipment.
What do I see?
A political front with a well organized and wrong force.
I see an advertisement and a well-assembled system.
Thank God there is still no loss of human life with your operational management.
Yes, and then point the finger at the district commanders when the problem comes from above.
I assume any responsibility for the outburst of this post.
Marco Guerreiro"
"Completely charred animals were found in chains"
https://osbichos.news/2018/08/08/algarve-encontrados-animais-acorrentados/
Dozens of volunteers and several veterinary clinics are assisting the animals victims of the fires in the Algarve.
The fire in Monchique, Algarve, which broke out last Friday and has already consumed 21,000 hectares of land, is also causing many casualties among domestic, production and wild animals. The number is incalculable and the requests for help for goods and food are many.
Patrícia Xavier, a veterinary assistant at VetMessines - Centro Veterinário de Messines, has been in the last few nights helping the animals rescued from the Monchique fire. "Many chained animals were found completely charred and others with very severe burns," he told the newspaper Os Bichos.
At VetMessines are being treated those whose situation is most troubling. "Many people have been able to get away with their pets. Even though they apparently did not need assistance, we observed them all, one by one, "explains Patricia Xavier.
Besides pets (mostly dogs and cats), there are also those of production, such as pigs, chickens and horses. "We treated two horses that had their noses burned," he says. For this veterinary assistant, the true extent of the tragedy with regard to animals can only be duly assessed when the fires have been extinguished.
Two animal care centers have been operating at the Port of Lagos (Portimão) and in the village of Monchique. Given that the fire has spread to the municipality of Silves, a third party is planned to open in this area. In these places are veterinarians, veterinary nurses and veterinary assistants from the Algarve, but also from other regions of the country.
Algarve Fires Animal Group
Due to the extent of the area affected by the fires and the high number of animals needing help, the Algarve Fires Animal Group was created on Facebook. A group to which all persons who wish to assist in the rescue and treatment of animals affected by the flames can join
This Wednesday, the fire of Silves rekindled and even threatened several houses. As a precaution, the Country Riding Center, about two kilometers from the city center. "The situation is uncontrollable. Fortunately, we managed to get all our animals safely, "he told the newspaper Os Bichos, Martina, the owner. In this center, there were 19 horses and several dogs and cats, either from the family or from clients, since they also have accommodation service. They are now on other farms in the Algarve and Alentejo.
Also, the 29 animals that are in the National Reproduction Center of the Iberian Lynx (CNRLI), located in the Herdade das Santinhas, in Silves, were withdrawn as a preventive measure. According to a note from the Ministry of the Environment, the lynxes (a protected species) were sent to the facilities of Spanish partners. The animals are being accompanied by technicians from the CNRLI and the ICNF (Institute of Nature and Forest Conservation).
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Veterinary Medical Association reported that "the animal support response is controlled". However, it will continue to 'survey needs on the ground, some of which are still inaccessible for safety reasons'.
Robert and his five donkeys
Robert Camaron Lucia, a 45-year-old German based in the Algarve about six years, will never forget Monday night. The place where he lived with his five donkeys, near Calda de Monchique, burned completely and Robert had to flee alone with his animals by the mountain.
"It was scary. The nearest houses had already been evacuated. The animals were very frightened and sometimes it was difficult to keep them together, "he tells the newspaper Os Bichos, still scarcely redone from the shock. The five donkeys of Andalusian race - Lucia (10 years), Camaron (9 years), Josefina (5 years), Frederico and Luísa (3 years) - were not injured, but Robert's project of life, Project Sanctuary Happy Donkeys was completely destroyed.
"Only the house stood up. Of the rest, there is nothing left, "he says. Robert launched an appeal for help on social networks and it began to appear. The owners of a farm in the Alentejo have made themselves available to take in the animals temporarily, but it takes a lot more so that this one in love with Portugal and donkeys managed to re-launch their life project literally from the ashes.
Robert Testimony On Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Robert.CamaronLucia
The truth why my donkeys are still alive.
Several people said very ugly things but they meant it good.
They said: Come with us, let the donkeys free, you have to think about you and you can buy new donkeys.
Sorry, but I´m a responsible man and I prefer to die with my donkeys who mean all to me, as to survive and knowing that I had abandoned them. 3 of my Donkeys have born with me, they love me like their father. No father abandons his children.
One of my neighbors Jose José Eduardo stayed all the night with his goats and his over 90 years old mum, people with real character. Not afraid of anything, except to abandon beings which are depended on them.
So I walked all night with them, several times it was very dangerous because of the smoke. So much pain in my lungs, getting dizzy, tired, thirsty, not really knowing where to go.
But I am very happy, I can look in every mirror and can say, yes, I made it, I am not a weeny. I am a responsible person.
Thank you all for your great support. I can´t thank you all now, but when I am settled my biggest wish ist to invite all of you and give back as much as I can. You all are great! Thank you so much.
But still, we are in need. We lost so much and we don´t know how future will be. Looking forward to get some donations to become able to buy the most important things.
If you wish to help:
My bank details are:
Robert Fritz Helmut Nestmann
Banco CTT
BIC/SWIFT: CTTVPTPL
IBAN: PT50 01930 0001 0500 6941 8667
PayPal: donkeydundee33@gmail.com
Robert, and my Donkeys Camaron, Lucia, Josefina, Frederico and Luisa
Volunteers accuse Civil Protection of preventing them from saving animals in Monchique
NATIONAL SHAME IN MONCHIQUE- PRIVATE RESCUE ANIMALS ARE LEFT TO DIE AND NOT FOR LACK OF RESOURCES
UPDATE: The meeting with the volunteers of the animal cause who were ready to enter the land It's over. Some concessions have been made and they already have a vehicle with permission to enter the land with a member of the civil protection, a veterinary doctor and a volunteer. Volunteers are now divided into shifts to ensure 24 hours. However some pet owners have appeared to get them back :) Whoever fights always catches up!
NATIONAL SHAME IN MONCHIQUE- ANIMALS DEPRIVED OF RESCUE ARE LEFT TO DIE AND NOT FOR LACK OF RESOURCES
https://www.facebook.com/qoasmi/posts/2249429355073400
A large group of volunteer associations, private individuals, and veterinary doctors set up a mega operation to rescue and rescue animals for which they were authorized.
They set up the tents and began the work that quickly paid off because they rescued dozens of animals including donkeys, sheep, chickens, cats, and dogs in articulation with the other entities involved.
Everything was going well until the second national operational commander of the National Civil Protection Authority (ANPC), Patrícia Gaspar, refused any veterinary help in the area, and even gave orders to dismantle the veterinary support tent.
What is not our astonishment when volunteers from the Guards arrive at the village of Monchique and come across a center of operations where confusion prevails. The Civil Protection was peremptory and says that animals are not a priority and nobody passes. The few and small teams that are on the ground to rescue animals did so without authorization from the Civil Protection.
The most caricate and revealing well the priorities in this seaside country planted is the fact that the Municipal Veterinary walks on the ground to bury animal corpses. The living have already made it clear that they are not a priority.
In the center of operations, donations are amassed. It is not even allowed to bring water and food to the animals in the affected area the more they are rescued.
In the center of operations, there are some dogs brought by the owners or who managed to get to the Center alone.
The dogs brought by the owners stayed in the center of operations because they evacuated the bus owners and did not allow them to be accompanied by their dog ... worse than that was not even having the data of the owners so that later make the animal arrive. So many places have offered to welcome the animals and no one is careful to identify the keepers. The animals are double victims of this type of calamity. Victims of the fire and victims of indifference!
We thought we were going to find support teams for watering, feeding and rescuing the animals that were victims of the fire. After all, they are volunteers prepared to help.
There are veterinarians from all over the country interested in participating in intervention and animal rescue in case of fire but for the state they are not a priority.
We know that Joao Ferreira is on the ground and that a veterinarian is dealing with bureaucracies that allow him to enter private property for the rescue of some animals because at this moment they can only rescue those who can reach them 😞
IRA - Animal Rescue and Intervention team is organizing to go on the field to do what they have been up to for many years and they do not take no for an answer.
And neither do we! After all, we are Portuguese and the animals are ours! Let's support the IRA and get them all the donations they need on the ground. Enter the page and learn the details.
Everything in this post is translated from the original.
All references are linked and visible.
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The Prince Of Dance Elbee Bad [ LaRhon 46]
Theater Of Operations ❪✇❫ A part of us dies with the fire [APE-01]
ACID!ACID!ACID! ❪✇❫ Boston 168 - J The Master [ATTIC016]