FIRE!

Gambrinus · Post by **Gambrinus** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 4:39 pm

That close to the sea the air from the sea sometimes pushes inland lifting the smoke for a little bit. In Carvoeiro it is not nerly as bad as further inland around Lagoa and Silves.

bluehunter74 · Post by **bluehunter74** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 5:30 pm

I can't even begin to imagine, what sort of person sets fire to a forest, risking his and other ppl lives.
Since in Portugal the maximum penalty is 25 years, in jail, with no regard, if you've just killed 1 or 10 persons, I think we could do with
biblical justice, and what could be smarter than imolating the m#$%"*er that has just set fire to a tree?

Ed · Post by Ed » Wed Aug 13, 2003 7:07 pm

Hell, this is awful.

I see on the webcam that there appear to be no shadows? Is the smoke blocking the sunlight?

I also see a temperature high of 41.5C at about 1300, but only around 28C now at 1750...is this correct and is it an effect caused by the smoke?

maddi · Post by **maddi** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 7:21 pm

Still thinking about you all and praying

stu · Post by **stu** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 8:28 pm

Is there any official info being put out by the authorities regarding the spread or control of the fires? My family's flying in next Thursday what are our chances of having a decent holiday with all this going on? Great site by the way.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Aug 13, 2003 9:03 pm

stu wrote:Is there any official info being put out by the authorities regarding the spread or control of the fires? My family's flying in next Thursday what are our chances of having a decent holiday with all this going on? Great site by the way.

there´s absolutely no problem.
stay tuned anyway

Janet · Post by **Janet** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 12:11 am

We are flying out to Carvoeiro a week on Thursday from the UK. I contacted our holiday company 'Holiday Hypermarket' who are agents for First Choice, and as far as they are concerned everything is normal, no need to be concerned! Please guys keep us updated.

Kind regards
Janet

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 11:16 am

a friend in bensafim was evacuated..firemen came gave them 8 mins to get out....meantime all the hills near cumeada near silves were blazing like dantes inferno. no helicopters can fly at night so they had to leave the fires to burn..silves i read this morning has implemented an emergency
plan.

very smokey but wind taking some of it away.

biffa · Post by **biffa** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 12:18 pm

Thick smoke billowing above Lagoa at present (11am) It is like dusk here now and obviously some new major outbreak. Some people say it is Falacho/Penina area but not sure yet.

maddi · Post by **maddi** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 12:52 pm

The pictures on the web sites that have been posted look awful and the text from the articles posted makes horrifying reading - I along with countless others are thinking about the families of the 16 people who have so far lost their lives, in particular the families of the two brave and unpaid firefighters.

This site has never seen so many people visiting the forum, eg. at this moment, 3 registered users and 15 guests, and I think it is a terrible tragedy that something so awful has drawn people here.

I know that I am monitoring this site on an on a quarter hourly basis as are so many others but with nothing useful to say or add, our hearts and prayers are with you but how inadequate is that.

Maddi

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 12:54 pm

You said it all Maddi, Mike,Chislehurst

anon. · Post by **anon.** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 2:35 pm

Here in Lisbon a popular theory is the farmer/landowner is also the arson. They're saying crops are being destroyed for the compensation; and burnt-out woodland is of interest to the property developer. This is more disturbing than the image of the "low life" "lunatic"

Blondelle · Post by **Blondelle** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 3:52 pm

Oh Biffa--Ive only just read your post of this morning andread of thick smoke over Lagoa --dont mind telling you I weep as I write this --thinking of my old home --and most of all the wonderful friends there---please God let it all be okay soon and an end to all this trauma and tragedy for you all --- God rest those brave fellas -the firefighters--to think that somebody can deliberately start all this truly makes the blood run cold.
Muitop obrigada to you, Steen, Gambrinus & others for keeping us all up dated on events --God bless you all, Love Elle.

Blondelle · Post by **Blondelle** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 3:58 pm

Just to add --I clicked onto Gambrinus' recommended www.iol.pt on "laptop" topic and managed to get the gist of the Portuguese report on fires --it was there I read of the deaths of firefighters.
Im now going onto UK/ London Fire Brigade --with Hubs help -to see whats happening there regards help and donations. Ellie.

biffa · Post by **biffa** » Thu Aug 14, 2003 7:58 pm

Lagoa under a grey pall with ash floating down on everything. The fire has jumped the river at Silves and is now approaching the Fontes at Estombar. It seems also that the Monte Judeu area is under threat.

Never seen anything like this before in 22+ years here.

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