The Associated Press
LISBON, Portugal — Portugal began executing its annual wildfire action plan Monday, two weeks earlier than usual as authorities sought to prevent a repeat of last year’s devastating blazes that killed 21 people.
Authorities placed rapid reaction forces, made up of firefighters dropped by helicopter when forest fires are first detected, on standby at 34 sites around the country. Police, forestry service officials and conservationists are helping patrol woodland.
The government said it had spent euro37 million (US$47.4 million) on more and better equipment for firefighters.
During the peak wildfire period, between July 1 and Sept. 30, more than 5,000 firefighters are to be on permanent standby, supported by more than 1,100 vehicles and 50 water-dropping aircraft.
Most of Portugal’s firefighters are volunteers who are called up whenever they are needed. There are about 40,000 registered volunteers and about 7,000 professional firefighters in the country.
Last year, wildfires scorched 325,000 hectares (800,000 acres) of forest during Portugal’s worst drought on record. Twelve firefighters were killed and dozens of homes were burned in remote villages. Spain and France sent water-dropping aircraft.
Police arrested more than 100 people on suspicion of starting the fires deliberately.
In 2003 — the worst for wildfires in two decades — fire consumed 425,000 hectares (1 million acres) and killed 18 people.