Data sent to Lusa by the National Republican Guard reveals that, since the beginning of the year and up to September 28, the GNR arrested 58 people in flagrante delicto for the crime of setting forest fires, 22 more than in the same period in 2024, a number surpassed in 2022 (72) and 2023 (63).

According to the GNR (National Republican Guard), 333 people have been arrested for the crime of setting forest fires since 2020, when 52 were arrested, a similar number in 2021.

The GNR also reports that this year it identified 713 people for the same crime, 162 more than in 2024.

The years with the highest number of suspects identified were 2021 (857), 2022 (1,103), and 2023 (970).

Fire surveillance

Regarding fire surveillance and detection, the security force issued 3,115 violation reports this year, up to September 28th, of which 2,507 were for lack of fuel management (land clearing), 460 for improper use of fire, and 37 for restricting access.

Violations for lack of land cleanliness increased 8.9% this year compared to the same period last year, while violations for improper use of fire decreased 32% and access restrictions doubled.

Despite increasing this year, fines for lack of cleanliness have been decreasing since 2020, when 4,737 fines were issued, to 3,207 in 2022, falling again the following year to 2,288, and in 2023, 2,602.

The GNR, through the Nature and Environmental Protection Service (SEPNA), considers "environmental and animal protection as a daily concern," and the SOS Environment and Territory Line (808 200 520) can be used for this purpose. It operates 24/7 to report violations or clarify doubts.

Lusa also requested data on arrests from the Judiciary Police, but received no response.

This fire season, nearly 270,000 hectares have burned to date. This is the fourth-worst year in terms of burned area after 2017, 2003, and 2025.

This year's fires also caused four deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries, as well as the total or partial destruction of first and second homes, farms, livestock, and forestry.

Portugal was affected by heat waves between July and August, which favored the occurrence of rural fires, especially in the northern and central interior of the country. Fires were recorded for 25 consecutive days, some of which, such as the one that started in Piódão and Trancoso, lasted 11 and eight days, respectively.

A total of 7,715 fires were started this year, according to data from the Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR), which shows a decrease in the number of fires in recent years, although this year saw the highest number since 2022.

The regions most affected by fires this year are the Central region, with 185,461 hectares of burned forest, and the North, with 70,690 hectares.