Fires spread to Portugal reserve:

Dozens evacuated

PORTUGAL: Portuguese rescue workers evacuated some 100 people from the Peneda-Geres National Park Thursday as wildfires in the north of the country intensified despite non-stop efforts by more than a thousand firefighters.

Interior Minister Rui Pereira told a news briefing the situation in the arid northern woodlands “is comparable to a true theatre of war”.

He also praised firefighters for their bravery after two died and several were badly injured in forest fires this week.

He said the Government had activated the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism to get additional firefighting equipment and was doing all in its power to prevent wildfires from spreading further.

Scorching heat and winds were “particularly adverse” this year, he said.

In total, fire brigades were combating more than 30 fires in Portugal on Thursday afternoon.

LISBON, Friday, Reuters