Portugal activates European civil defense to put out wildfires

Country requests air support as blaze rages

Portugal has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism to seek aerial firefighting support as it battles a blaze that has burned more than 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) of land in the southern Algarve region.

The fire is believed to have started on Saturday afternoon in the municipality of Tavira and has since spread to neighboring Faro and Loulé.

More than 600 firefighters are battling the blaze, but strong winds and dry conditions are hampering their efforts.

The European Civil Protection Mechanism allows EU member states to request assistance from other countries in the event of a major disaster.

Portugal has requested two firefighting aircraft from Spain and one from Italy.

The blaze is the latest in a series of wildfires that have hit Portugal this summer.

In July, a fire in the central region of the country killed 64 people.

What is the European Civil Protection Mechanism?

The European Civil Protection Mechanism is a system that allows EU member states to request assistance from other countries in the event of a major disaster.

The mechanism was established in 2001 and has been activated more than 300 times since then.

The mechanism can be activated by any EU member state that is facing a major disaster, such as a flood, earthquake, or wildfire.

How does the European Civil Protection Mechanism work?

When a country activates the European Civil Protection Mechanism, it sends a request for assistance to the European Commission.

The Commission then coordinates the response, identifying which countries are able to provide assistance and what type of assistance is needed.

The assistance can include financial aid, personnel, equipment, or expertise.

What are the benefits of the European Civil Protection Mechanism?

The European Civil Protection Mechanism provides a number of benefits, including:

• It allows countries to access resources that they may not have available domestically.
• It facilitates cooperation between EU member states in the event of a major disaster.
• It helps to save lives and reduce damage to property.