“At this moment, we continue to have two areas that cause us concern, mainly in Achada do Teixeira, in Pico Ruivo, in the central mountain range of Madeira Island. In this area, during the night we had some developments due to the wind, with the fire having progressed on the eastern slope of Pico Ruivo and is now descending towards Fajã da Nogueira, which is an area of ​​concern”, the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service told Lusa news agency.

According to António Nunes, the flames are also spreading downwards towards the north towards Caldeirão do Inferno, also in the municipality of Santana, which is also a cause for concern because it is in the Laurissilva forest.

“In the Laurissilva, the fire is spreading more slowly. Around those hills it is impossible to control it because it is not possible to reach those cliffs because the slopes are very steep”, he said.

As for Ponta do Sol, according to António Nunes, the fire has been spreading “at the whim of the wind.

“It is spreading laterally on the cliff. We have personnel positioned at the top of the cliff and we have to wait for the flames to reach a place where the slope allows direct combat”, he said.

According to the president of the Regional Civil Protection Service, the helicopter will be activated as soon as conditions allow.

“We are waiting for the two Canadair planes to arrive and the helicopter will take off as soon as it is viable. For now, we will make an assessment and then start fighting the fire if possible, as we currently do not know the wind conditions in the mountainous area”, he said.

According to António Nunes, the two Canadairs should arrive in the morning and, if the weather conditions allow, they will start fighting in the afternoon.

The fire on Madeira Island broke out on August 14, in the mountains of the municipality of Ribeira Brava, gradually spreading to the municipalities of Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol, and, via Pico Ruivo, Santana.

The authorities advised nearly 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and provided public shelter facilities, but many residents have already returned, with the exception of those in Fajã das Galinhas, in Câmara de Lobos.

The fight against the flames has been hampered by the wind and high temperatures, but there are no reports of homes or essential infrastructure being destroyed.

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