The fire that has been burning since last Wednesday morning in the mountains of Madeira has now reached the municipality of São Vicente, as reported yesterday by DIÁRIO, after having devastated several areas in the municipalities of Ribeira Brava, where it started, and in Câmara de Lobos.
According to Artur Fernandes, the flames are currently burning in the upper part of the Boaventura mountains. The fire is believed to have ‘jumped’ from Pico Ferreiro and the Boca das Torrinhas area.
The commander of the Volunteer Firefighters of São Vicente and Porto Moniz, who has been on the ground since yesterday trying to prevent the flames that were burning on the Serra de Água side from spreading from Boca da Encumeada to the São Vicente valley
“It was a night of work, protecting some houses and the Estalagem da Encumeada”, Artur Fernandes told DIÁRIO, noting that “there have been situations where we have no access to the fires, that has been the big problem in fighting them, which ends up making things difficult”, referring mainly to the land between Encumeada and Serra de Água. Even so, “there have been some positive developments”.
When asked about the spread of the fire to the municipality of São Vicente, the commander of the northern corporation said they had managed to “stop” the flames in the Boca da Encumeada area, however, “in the higher areas there are some fire outbreaks”, leading him to say that the situation is not yet under control.
However, it is noted that the fire has spread to the Boaventura mountains, in Lombo do Urzal, in an area with no access for fire-fighting vehicles. The situation is being monitored by forces on the ground.