The “Alerta de incêndio florestal” (Forest Fire Alert) is an association that in the event of large forest fires provides provisions (food, water and clothing supplies) to the firefighters on the front line. They organise drop-off locations where the team then collects and delivers to the Bombeiros on the ground. The association also utilises Facebook as a method of alerting and updating their “likers” of all fires that break out in the Algarve and also any other large fires elsewhere in the country.
It is a charity run association and therefore requires cash to maintain this fantastic service to the community.
On Sunday 20th October there is a Fine Art Auction being held at the Lady in Red Gallery in Lagoa to raise money. During the horrendous fires of Monchique in 2018, I was out near to the active front that ravaged not too far away from my local village of São Marcos da Serra. Unless there was a drastic change of wind, the fire was not threatening the village, however, many residents were understandably nervous with the skies thick with black smoke. I sent live video back to the residents in the village to keep their minds at rest, of course at the same time, I took a camera to capture some shots. All of the blog posts related to this fire can be found HERE.
One of the photos I captured was an Air Tractor Fireboss dropping water on a raging active front. Eventually, the larger Canadair planes were brought in as the fire was too great for the smaller planes to tackle.
I have donated a framed print of this image to the auction and hopefully it will raise some well deserved money. The print is on A3 sized paper and mounted inside a glass-fronted silver 50x40cm frame. More information on this amazing event can be found by visiting https://alertafineartcatalogue2019.yolasite.com/?fbclid=IwAR2jn3fj00QOReUsoZ4wa7_MG_Zwk_V94pyQD_GOKhsk7JZgEGnHbES6jk0 where you can even download the catalogue of all donated artwork. The catalogue can also be downloaded HERE.
