Serra da Estrela fire in August “must serve as lesson to us all”
One of many extraordinary photographs coming out of the Serra da Estrela tragedy. This one by Nuno André Ferreira/ Lusa

Marcelo visits Serra da Estrela; calls for ‘adminstrative revolution’ in firefighting

President Marcelo has been visiting areas affected by the raging fires last summer, and heard – along with the rest of the country – that the fire that careered in and out of control in the natural park of Serra da Estrela last August was the largest ever registered in the area. At the time, there were many criticisms of authorities’ fire fighting strategy. Today, Portugal’s head of State has admitted that there has to be “an administrative revolution to respond more efficiently to the large fires” that are unfortunately becoming more prevalent.