by InTrieste
A night of monitoring followed the rain that offered firefighters a welcome respite on Mount Amariana, where crews were waiting for helicopters to take flight and assess the fire’s latest developments.
Between 5 and 19 millimeters of rain fell after 4:45 p.m., more than forecast, raising cautious optimism among the crews who have battled the wildfire for four days. The fire is not yet under control, however, as heat remains trapped beneath the surface.
The Civil Protection service, Forest Service and Fire Brigade moved their operations from the base camp at the foot of the mountain to the sports field in Amaro after the storm.
Hundreds of hectares of woodland have burned, with the western side of Mount Amariana the hardest hit. On Monday evening, helicopters equipped with thermal cameras carried out targeted water drops over areas where smoke was still visible, seeking to prevent underground heat from reigniting the fire.
The rainfall provided a significant pause, but was not enough to extinguish the blaze. Crews are now looking toward Thursday, when further rain is forecast, in hopes of a more decisive break in the fire.
