| Date: | 14–25 August |
| Location: | Madeira |
| Total Fires: | 1 |
| Total Area: | 5,116 hectares (19.8 square miles)[1] |
| Fatalities: | 0 |
| Injuries: | 2 |
| Buildings: | 0 |
| Cause: | Exceptionally dry conditions, excessive heat, strong wind gusts |
In mid-August 2024, there were wildfires on the Portuguese island of Madeira, 700km (400miles) west of Morocco. As of August 20, the flames had burned more than 5700ha of forest, according to the European Forest Fire Information System.[2] [3]
The fire started in the mountains of Serra de Água on August 14, and spread east toward Curral das Freiras and Câmara de Lobos.The president of the Madeiran government Miguel Albuquerque said "There is no threat to the population, homes, or infrastructure. The intervention so far has been appropriate."
Portugal sent a force of 76 firefighters from the mainland to Madeira on Saturday and the neighboring Azores archipelago was to send 15 firefighters Sunday evening.