According to a source from the regional secretariat for Health and Civil Protection, the current situation of the fire that has been burning on the island of Madeira for 12 days continues to be one of “smouldering” and “active surveillance”.

“Only a few personnel remained on site to monitor and prevent rekindling”, the same source reported.

Early this morning, Civil Protection had revealed that the fire was “under control and in the “smouldering” phase, with no active fires left, but still with some hot spots.

Although the situation is currently under control, the fire cannot yet be considered extinguished and teams will remain vigilant on the ground to prevent possible rekindling, added the regional commander of Civil Protection, António Nunes, in statements to Lusa.

Data from the European Forest Fire Information System indicate that more than 5,045 hectares of area have been burned.

The rural fire on the island of Madeira 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 Santana.

Since the start of the fire, the authorities have advised nearly 200 people to leave their homes as a precaution and have made public shelter facilities available, but many residents have returned home.

Fighting the flames was made difficult by the wind and high temperatures, but according to the Regional Government, there were no reports of injuries or destruction of homes or essential public infrastructure, although some small agricultural production was affected, as well as forest areas.

The Judicial Police are investigating the causes of the fire, but the president of the Madeiran executive, Miguel Albuquerque, said it was arson.