Portugal has deployed army units and forestry agents to clear woody debris left by severe storms in early 2026, racing against the approaching summer wildfire season. In the central region of Serta, one of the worst-hit areas, heavy bulldozers painted in army drab and soldiers in camouflage work deep in the forest, removing tons of felled trees, broken branches, and bark that could fuel potential blazes.
Risk of Intense Fires
Wildfire expert Jose Miguel Pereira told Reuters that the windstorms had left a "totally abnormal amount of fallen fuel on the ground," increasing the likelihood of more intense and dangerous fires. Portugal consistently reports the largest percentage of burned land in the European Union relative to its size.
Last summer, Portugal and Spain suffered a 16-day heatwave that was the most intense on record, helping to stoke devastating forest fires. Scientists attribute such extreme weather events to human-caused climate change, which is making them more frequent.
Reinforced Firefighting Response
Portugal has reinforced its Special Rural Firefighting Response System this year, bringing it to 15,149 personnel, 3,463 vehicles, and 81 aircraft. Agriculture Minister Jose Manuel Fernandes said 17,000 km (10,563 miles) of forest roads had been cleared, but more work is needed on private plots until the end of June. After that, hefty fines will be imposed on non-compliant landowners.
Under a law approved this year, authorities can enter private land plots that have not been cleared of woody debris. The government is offering subsidies worth up to €1,500 ($1,742) per hectare to help owners in storm-hit areas, and owners representing 40,000 hectares have already agreed to do the work.
"Our plea is: Do it fast," Fernandes told RTP broadcaster on Thursday. "We certainly have a complicated summer ahead. But we've never had so many means at our disposal as now, never put so much effort into prevention."
