Human action continues to be predominant in the fires in Leiria

Human actions are the main cause of rural fires in the Leiria region, with 76% attributed to human activity, according to Carlos Guerra from Civil Protection. This year, 270 rural fires have been recorded, burning 68 hectares. The highest number of fires occurred in Leiria, followed by Pombal and Marinha Grande. Key causes include arson, agricultural burning, and machinery use. Guerra emphasized the need for awareness campaigns to address human negligence, which significantly contributes to fire incidents. He noted that the region faces challenges due to increasing occurrences and a shortage of human resources for firefighting efforts.