ZKI monitors fire hot-spots in Portugal

After one of the most severe droughts over the Iberian Peninsula, many wildfires were raging out of control across central and northern Portugal. By August 22, 2005, 27 fires were active in the region and have left at least 15 dead and 140,000 hectares destroyed. The worst-hit areas included the central region, where fires were threatening the outskirts of the third-largest city of Portugal, Coimbra. The fast-moving wildfires had already destroyed at least 12 houses in Ceira, a suburb of the city. A state of emergency was declared in the region. Wildfires were also continuing to burn in the northern districts of Viseu and Viana do Castelo. The more than 3000 Portuguese fire-fighters were supported by fire-fighting aircraft and helicopters from France, Spain, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. Also in the neighbouring region Galicia, Spain, 20 forest fires are reported. Based on the experiences in the fire seasons 2003 and 2004, ZKI started to monitor the situation using the sensors NOAA-AVHRR and MODIS for the detection of fire hotspots. DFD used its own receiving equipment for the purpose and processed the raw data for use in the field.