Forest protection
Fire is a major threat to forests in Portugal.
To reduce the danger of fire, Altri has formed a joint venture company with Portucel, the largest owners of forest land in Portugal. The joint venture company is called Afocelca. Its purpose is to centralise fire prevention and fire fighting activities. Afocelca’s simple, efficient structure enables it to provide a flexible approach to surveillance and defensive action against forest fires.
Afocelca’s fire fighting strategy is based on four axes:
- Timing
Prompt action is essential for reducing fire damage. The sooner the fire brigade arrives, the better – as they can attack the fire at source. - Initial mass attack
At the initial stages of a fire, the fire brigade prioritises the suppression of wildland fires. - Evaluation of potential damage
When several forest fires break out simultaneously, we evaluate the potential damage that each fire might cause. In this way, priority can be given to defending the most valuable property or areas. - Evaluation of potential danger
Similarly, we analyze the propagation of the fire using fire models – an aid to fire brigade management.