Portugal is mobilizing its army and forestry agents to clean up forests devastated by storms in early 2026, as the country prepares for another high-risk summer fire season.
In the central Serta region, which has been particularly hard hit, military bulldozers and soldiers are clearing tons of felled trees, branches and bark accumulated after the storms, in order to limit the risk of forest fires spreading.
Fire expert José Miguel Pereira explained that the strong winds had left a "completely abnormal amount of fuel on the ground", increasing the danger of more intense and difficult-to-control fires.
Portugal regularly has one of the worst records in the European Union in terms of burned area relative to its size. Last summer, Portugal and Spain experienced a 16-day heatwave, the most intense ever recorded in the region, which fueled massive wildfires.
Scientists attribute the increase in these extreme weather events to climate change caused by human activities.
To strengthen its preparedness, the Portuguese government has this year increased the personnel of its special rural firefighting unit to 15,149 people, supported by 3,463 vehicles and 81 aircraft.
Agriculture Minister José Manuel Fernandes stated that 17,000 kilometers of forest roads had already been cleared. Authorities are also urging private landowners to clear their properties before the end of June, or face heavy fines.
Authorities fear that in the event of a particularly hot and dry summer, debris left by Storm Kristin could turn some forested areas into veritable tinderboxes.
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