This Portugal is a country prone to wildfires. According to the National Risk Assessment, wildfires pose an extreme risk in the country due to their high probability and impact. The year 2017 was the most critical on record, with fires causing over 100 fatalities and burning 500,000 hectares. In addition, hundreds of buildings were affected, including houses and industries, and other economic activities severely affected. In response to the 2017 disaster, the Portuguese government implemented a regulation establishing fire resistance requirements for buildings.

Rural fires occur annually on the Portuguese mainland, especially during the summer. These fires have a significant impact on the local communities and the country as a whole. In Portugal, the mountainous areas of the North, Centre, and Algarve have the highest risk of rural fire. Villages, housing settlements, road and rail infrastructure, and sections of the electricity grid are located in these high-risk areas.

Climate scenarios indicate an increased risk of rural fires due to changes in the thermal climate (a greater number of hot days and heat waves) and due to the reduction in water availability (increasing trend of dry periods). This makes rural areas more vulnerable to fires, which may occur with greater frequency and intensity, putting human lives at risk. Strengthening the structural resistance of buildings and other infrastructure in the most dangerous areas, especially in the urban-wild interface, is crucial.

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