Madeira tightens fire prevention rules amid heat warning

Madeira's Forest and Nature Conservation Institute (IFCN) has renewed warnings about high wildfire risk after IPMA extended an orange heat warning until Tuesday, 7 July. Mountainous areas remain particularly prone to fires, prompting a ban on bonfires, burning of waste and use of barbecue facilities in leisure areas. Authorities also advise against using spark-generating equipment such as brushcutters, chainsaws and welding tools in rural areas, and discourage camping in forested zones. The road linking Pico do Areeiro to Eira do Serrado stays closed as a precaution, while hikers are urged to guard against dehydration and heatstroke.