The fire is already very close to Paul da Serra. Strong winds in the mountains could accelerate the spread of the flames.
Residents in the municipality of Ponta do Sol are waiting expectantly for the progress of the flames today, as there is a high risk of the fire reaching the mountains of that municipality in the western zone.
This morning, the fire has progressed with some intensity on the right bank of Serra de Água, having already passed Fajã das Éguas and Fajã dos Cedros, threatening to reach the Lombo do Mouro area, still in the Ribeira Brava mountains, but already quite close to Ponta do Sol.
DIÁRIO contacted the mayor of Ponta do Sol to find out how the situation is being monitored and what measures are being considered. Célia Pessegueiro acknowledges that there is a risk of the flames reaching her municipality. The wind could be a major driver.
At this time, the local authority led by the socialist has teams from the Municipal Civil Protection Service on the ground carrying out surveillance operations, including in the Bica da Cana area. Depending on how the situation evolves, the Mayor is considering recommending that the population take some precautions, namely moving any cattle that may be grazing in the Ponta do Sol mountains, especially in the upper part of Lombada, Pomar de D. João or Quinta.
“I’m just waiting for more information, so I can then issue a warning to the population that has cattle in the high areas of Ponta do Sol, Lombada, Quinta and Pomar de D. João, so that people can be very vigilant and remove some of their belongings”, stresses the mayor.
Also under consideration is the possibility of evacuating people who may be in the Bica da Cana area, a place much sought after by tourists for walking.
Célia Pessegueiro also noted the lack of water that has been felt since Friday in some areas of the municipality, largely due to the water being diverted to neighboring areas, which have been devastated by the fire. “This situation also does not help us much and we have been appealing for minimum consumption”, she says