In a note sent to newsrooms this morning, the Regional Civil Protection Service informs that there are three active fires in Madeira, in the municipalities of Porto Moniz (north), Calheta (west) and Câmara de Lobos (west).

The Porto Moniz fire is the one that involves the most resources, with 65 operatives supported by 28 vehicles.

In the municipality of Calheta, there are 40 operational units, 11 vehicles and two tanks, while in Câmara de Lobos there are 13 operational units and three vehicles, according to the note.

According to the regional Civil Protection, all the Fire Departments in the autonomous region, PSP and GNR, are committed to fighting these fires.

The rescue of 13 tourists who were stranded on Thursday, in the Ribeira da Janela levada, in the municipality of Porto Moniz, is being carried out by six operatives from the Wide Angle Rescue Team of the Madeiran Volunteer Firefighters, according to Civil Protection.

The Mayor of Porto Moniz, Emanuel Câmara, told journalists today that the 13 tourists, who were staying in a hotel in the upper area of Porto Moniz, were on the route when “they were surprised by the flames” and “they took refuge in one of the tunnels on that same levada.”

The mayor highlighted, on the other hand, that it is still premature to talk about burning houses in the municipality and he does not know how many people were removed from their homes during the night.

A fire broke out on Wednesday, around 6:00 pm, in the parish of Prazeres, municipality of Calheta, and spread during the night to the adjacent parish of Fajã da Ovelha and, later, on Thursday afternoon, to the parishes of Ponta do Pargo, Achadas da Cruz and Porto Moniz.

Another fire broke out on Thursday, at 5:00 pm, in the parish of Quinta Grande, in the municipality of Câmara de Lobos, which is still active, but is considered the least serious of the three that are ravaging Madeira.

There is also a fire that broke out on Thursday in Curral das Freiras, in Câmara de Lobos, but which has already been brought under control.

Related article: Madeira fire still “out of control”