Portugal is particularly prone to wildfires over the summer season. In fact, one third of the country is classed as a ‘high’ or ‘very high’ risk area. This can pose real threats to the safety of inhabitants: in 2017 (the deadliest fire season on record), the fires resulted in more than 100 casualties. Future climate scenarios are not favourable: there is a high potential for extreme ‘mega fires.
Given this risk, the Portuguese Government decided that a stronger call for action on awareness and preparedness was needed, particularly targeting local citizens in those areas which are at risk
The ‘Safe Village, Safe People’ programme was set up in 2018, under the coordination of the Portuguese Civil Protection Authority, to increase awareness and preparedness within the communities in rural areas which were most threatened by forest fires. Experience suggested that citizens were more likely to respond to awareness campaigns if they heard the messages from members of their community, whom they tend to trust more. The campaign therefore worked at a local level, bringing in volunteers from within the communities to act as liaisons with local civil protection authorities, and even to take part in awareness-raising videos. Local people quickly came on board, and more than 2 200 villages have joined the programme. Almost 2 100 Local Safety Officers have been nominated to take part.
The accompanying media campaign, which focused on awareness raising, was supported by the distribution of leaflets in different languages (this was particularly vital, given the large numbers of tourists in the country each year). Practical tools, like evacuation kits containing first aid kits, lanterns, whistles, and radios, were given out, while local safety officers received supporting materials such as vests, backpacks and megaphones.
The ‘Safe Village, Safe People’ campaign also involved the implementation of preparedness measures on a large scale. More than 2 800 shelters or places of refuge were set up. Local warning mechanisms were established, and 12 000 citizens took part in over 400 drills. More than 900 evacuation plans were implemented.
Based on the feedback received, the campaign was judged as being very successful, both in terms of raising awareness and boosting preparedness. An independent evaluation carried out in 2022 in the report of the Expert Group on Rural Fires stated: “According to the testimonies heard from several civil protection agents, in general, people were more prepared to collaborate in evacuation and confinement actions. This greater preparation is felt above all in the agglomerations in which the ‘Safe Village, Safe People’ programme is implemented, especially in those villages with an evacuation plan and a drill carried out”.
Feedback from on-site commanders supported this: they found that in villages where the programme was implemented, citizens were calmer and more confident, aware of the risk but willing to cooperate with authorities. This facilitated the evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures.
Overall, more than 35 000 citizens have been involved in more than 900 awareness actions over the duration of the campaign so far. The programme is ongoing and planned to last until at least 2030. Forthcoming priorities include the distribution of evacuation kits to citizens, as well as support materials for shelters (emergency lighting and first aid kits). A media campaign on fuel management in buffer areas around villages is expected to start in March 2024.
‘Safe Villages, Safe People’ is a pertinent example of good practice in running a campaign at local level in order to achieve stronger results in awareness raising and preparedness.
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