From 19 to 28 July 2024, Valentina Bacciu and Michele Salis of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR-IBE) carried out parallel Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) in Portugal. Hosted by the School of Agriculture of the University of Lisbon under the scientific coordination of Dr Akli Benali, both were integrated into the National Wildfire Decision Support Cell (NAD-AIR) of Portugal’s National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).
Both researchers come from research-oriented backgrounds. The missions offered what a lab cannot: a view of wildfire analysis from the operational side, in real time.
Learning the routine
After an orientation on ANEPC’s structure and technology, both were trained on the NAD-AIR platform used to monitor wildfires in real time and forecast fire danger, potential behaviour and weather. They took part in the cell’s routine work: monitoring weather, interpreting fire danger indices from the Portuguese weather service (IPMA), and preparing strategic wildfire analysis bulletins.
The Alcabideche-Cascais wildfire
On 21 July 2024, during the missions, the Alcabideche-Cascais wildfire broke out, and it became the focus of their work.
Michele Salis mapped the fire’s main spatio-temporal progressions, derived observed metrics such as rate of spread and burned area, collected environmental and suppression data, and analysed spread and behaviour in a detailed report released at the end of the mission.
Valentina Bacciu explored the field data, evaluated and built fire progressions, and interpreted the strategic suppression decisions taken. Her in-depth study produced a report supporting decision-making and planning, identifying best practices and areas for improvement.
Bringing it home
Both missions strengthen collaboration between Italian and Portuguese institutions. The reconstructed fire progression will be proposed for the European NERO fire database, and the methodology will be applied to Italian fires. The knowledge gained is being shared with local stakeholders, policy makers and researchers in Sardinia and Italy, including a dedicated NERO webinar.
About the grant
| Grantees | Valentina Bacciu and Michele Salis |
| Home institution | National Research Council of Italy, Institute of BioEconomy (CNR-IBE), Italy |
| Host | School of Agriculture (ISA), University of Lisbon, and the National Wildfire Decision Support Cell (NAD-AIR) of ANEPC, Portugal |
| Dates | 19–28 July 2024 |
| Grant type | Short-Term Scientific Mission |
This grants were funded by COST Action CA22164 – European Network on Extreme Fire Behaviour (NERO), supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology).
