Prepare the property before critical days
Prevention starts well before there is a fire nearby. Review the land, roof, gutters, access routes and materials stored by the house. Dry leaves, branches, damaged furniture or other combustible items against the building deserve early attention.
Vegetation and fuel management must follow current rules and be carried out by people with suitable knowledge and equipment. Do not wait for a day of very high or maximum danger, when restrictions may apply to machinery and other activities capable of producing heat or sparks.
If you are unsure about fuel-management strips, vegetation, boundaries or mandatory work, check with the municipality, parish council, ICNF or a qualified professional.
- Remove dry leaves and debris from gutters, roofs, patios and the area immediately around the home when it is safe to do so.
- Keep firewood, gas cylinders, fuel, furniture and other combustible materials away from the building.
- Make sure gates, paths and access routes are identifiable and unobstructed.
- Review vegetation early and in accordance with applicable local rules.
- Create a photographic record of the property's starting condition.
Create a simple plan for an unoccupied home
An empty home needs clear decisions before an alert is issued. Decide who holds a key, who may enter, when you should be contacted and the limits of any intervention. A local contact should know the exact address and have clear instructions, but must never be asked to approach an unsafe area.
Keep the owner's details, an alternative contact, insurer and regular tradespeople readily available. Record where water, electricity and gas can be isolated, without assuming these should be handled during an emergency.
- Full address, coordinates and access instructions.
- Primary and alternative contacts.
- Permission and limits for access or minor decisions.
- Relevant information about animals, gas, fuel, outbuildings and equipment.
- Insurance documents, inventory and recent photographs stored away from the property.
Rely on official information
Rural fire danger varies by municipality and by day. Check the IPMA map and updates from Portugal's National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, the municipality and security services. Additional restrictions apply at very high and maximum levels.
Avoid decisions based on old photographs, unattributed messages or unverified local-group posts. If you receive an official warning, follow the instructions for your area and keep communication channels available.
Danger level, risk, an active incident and proximity are not the same thing. A local report can complement official information when access is permitted, but must never conflict with cordons, evacuations or other official instructions.
If a wildfire is nearby, people come first
In an emergency, call 112 and follow the authorities' instructions. Do not travel to the property, ask a neighbour or provider to enter, or try to retrieve belongings unless the area has been declared safe.
Closing a window, moving an outdoor object or checking a gate never justifies exposing someone to fire, smoke, emergency traffic or a rapid change in wind. Last-minute tasks must give way to self-protection and evacuation when directed by the authorities.
Danger may remain after a fire has passed. Re-entry and any inspection should wait for permission, respect restricted access and avoid potentially unstable structures, trees, cables or materials.
What a local visit can and cannot do
Outside emergencies, a scheduled visit can observe the visible condition of access routes, the exterior, gutters and agreed points, compare photographs and report changes to the owner. It can also help coordinate authorised professionals for preventive work carried out safely.
During an alert or active incident, Laro follows official guidance and does not enter evacuated, restricted or unsafe areas. Once access is authorised, it can make a visual record and help the owner organise the next steps.
This service is not permanent surveillance, firefighting, a technical inspection, forestry management, structural assessment or a guarantee that the property will be protected. Specialist work and emergency decisions belong to the relevant authorities and qualified professionals.
Checklist before leaving your home in summer
A final check should confirm what has already been prepared, not trigger risky work in a hurry. Review the forecast danger level, check your contacts and tell the local contact when you will be away.
- Check the rural fire danger level on IPMA.
- Confirm preventive maintenance was completed in good time.
- Check access, address identification and the authorised key.
- Store documents, inventory and photographs somewhere safe.
- Agree when to report and when not to visit the property.
- In an emergency, call 112 and always follow the authorities.
