Lisbon July 02, 2026: — A declaration of a state of alert includes, for example, a ban on burning and on work in forest areas using any type of machinery.
The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, announced this Thursday, July 2nd, that the Government will proceed "with the application, starting at midnight, of the declaration of a state of alert," due to the persistence of high temperatures, with thermometers exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in some regions.
In Leiria, the minister explained that this declaration is mainly related to "the prohibition of access and circulation" to certain "previously defined" forest areas, and to "the prohibition of controlled burns and the burning of agricultural waste." "This is where problems often arise," the minister admitted.
The declaration of a state of alert also includes "the prohibition of carrying out work in forest areas using any type of machinery," with the exception of situations involving the fight against rural fires, he exemplified.
"The use of brush cutters with metal blades or trimmers, brush cutters, shredders, and machines with blades or front shovels is prohibited in most rural areas , " the minister stated, noting that "normally, it is small sparks" that, in this heat, can result in ignition.
Luís Neves also spoke about "the issue of the use of fireworks and other pyrotechnic materials, regardless of their form of combustion, as well as the suspension of authorizations that have already been issued." This also includes "the prohibition of launching balloons with wicks," said the minister, referring to the "guidelines" of the government order that determines the declaration of alert.
This involves "reinforcing measures and prohibiting certain behaviors," he summarized. "The omission of certain types of actions is a key factor for success," he considered. "Small moments of negligence transform into great moments of misfortune," he emphasized.
Luís Neves reiterated his warning that "the nights will be tropical." "There won't be room for our forests and woodlands to cool down.
That's why I said yesterday that we could be talking about a powder keg. And that's what we don't want to happen," he said.
Faced with the heat wave that is sweeping the country, with almost the entire continental territory at maximum and very high risk of fire, Luís Neves once again appealed to the "collective" to redouble their efforts in the face of this period of high temperatures, which could last up to 10 days, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere.
"I reiterate the importance of caution to all citizens. Each of you must be responsible. If someone is not behaving appropriately, others have an obligation to call attention to it and warn them. If this behavior is repeated, it must be reported," the official stated.
COMMENT
A State of Alert is the lowest of the three measures under Civil Protect Law the otherr two being State of Contingency and highest State Of Calamity