EU heeds Portugal’s call for help in fighting forest fires

TWO Canadair water tank planes from France and one from Spain arrived in Portugal yesterday afternoon to help fight more than 60 wildfires gripping the country from north to south, firefighters said.

A third of these were burning in the northern districts of Viseu and Viana do Castelo.

Today, a Canadair from Italy plus three helicopters from Germany with 25 anti-fire specialists onboard are expected to arrive in the fire stricken country to add to the international task force.