The order revealed there are 991 priority parishes for the purposes of fuel management, seven fewer than in 2023.

“The criteria to identify priority parishes adopted in 2022 were maintained, which incorporate the factors of the dangers of rural fires and the value of ecosystems. As a result, 991 parishes have now been identified (34 percent of the total number) covering 2,844,170 hectares (32 percent of the surface of mainland Portugal) and encompassing 1,983,590 hectares of forest areas (37 percent of the total), stated the order, which is published annually.

“The definition of these priorities does not exempt the managing agents of the territory from complying with all the provisions set out in the rural fire management legislation, and the scope of inspection by the competent entities is not limited to the areas and deadlines mentioned.”

In accordance with the document, inspection of fuel management in the 991 priority parishes will be carried out from May 1 to May 31 on land adjacent to buildings in rural areas (within a range of 50 meters) and in population clusters.

For road, railway networks, electric transport and distribution lines, inspections will be conducted from June 1 to June 30.