At 5pm this afternoon (Thursday, 8th September) the number of firefighters battling the flames that started in Monchique last night and which now have spread into the Portimão district, reached 499 with full air and ground support in a massive operation.
By late afternoon the flames had reached the banks of the Arade river and were closing in on the Algarve International Autodrome where black-out conditions from the smoke made necessary the evacuation of the new hotel.
Some 85 guests at the Pestana-run autodrome hotel had to be taken to safety as were people from the main autodrome and the surrounding area including Carriçal, Moinho da Rocha and Tabual.
Isilda Gomes, president of Portimão Council, said today that the Pestana hotel was evacuated "only as a precaution", stressing that the hotel facilities are not in danger. "The fire has not reach there, nor will it," said the mayor, with her fingers crossed.
The stiff wind has made this fire uncontrollable along many of its fronts and the flames today crossed into the Portimão district despite hundreds of thousands of litres of water used to try and halt progress.
Firefighters from across the region and beyond have been supported by 9 airborne aircraft - four helicopters and five aeroplanes - three of which are heavy duty including a massive Russian Beriev.
Commander Vaz Pinto says there some ruins have been consumed by fire, but no houses and 16 people being evacuated in addition to the autodrome hotel guests and staff.
In addition to the wind, one of the problems is that many areas are difficult to access, with steep inclines, rocks and stones, where the earthmoving machines being used to clear firebreaks can not even get close.
At first, the most likely reason for the blaze was 're-ignition' of the last Saturday’s deliberate fire that was quelled by Sunday night. This view changed today as the fire commander Vaz Pinto said it was highly suspicious that the fire came back with such force when it has been categorised as 'extinguished.'
In the centre of Portimão there is a distinct smell of smoke. Airborne sparks have rained down on property in the tourist area of Praia da Rocha - the sky is black as the smoke blocks out the sun. Ash has been falling in Lagos, Aljezur, Silves and Lagoa.
The 27-ton Beriev has been dumping water all day, discharging up to 12,000 liters at a time which it can collect from the sea should land supplies run out.
The northerly wind across the area is gusting to 40kmph, last night the speed was over 50kmph causing the uncontrollable spread of flames west and southwards.
The relative humidity is over 80% and with temperatures in the high 20s, fire commanders have an unenviable mix of factors making this by far the most serious fire this year in the Algarve.
The 49-year-old man responsible for starting the fire last Saturday, which reignited last night and is the reason for this huge firefighting operation, was been remanded in custody by Portimão court on Monday, as much for his own safety as to prevent further incidents.
The air support operation stopped at dusk as clouds of smoke drifted across the Algarve, blocking the sunset for much of the concerned population. The fire continues into the night with firefighters on the ground continuing the unenviable and exhausting task.
The picture below was supplied by NASA this afternoon and shows the smoke from the Monchique area drifting southwards:
© Augusto Venancio
© Chloé Ophelia
© Bruce Hawker
© Lusa
© Lusa
© Empregado de Mesa
© Ed - looking north from Olhão at 19:30
