Who walks down the narrow street to the beach do Vau in Arouca, breathe the smell of smoke, see areas completely destroyed by the flames, intersects with vehicles of firefighters clash in a black scenario that suddenly replaced a spot green. The fire that started in Vila Cova, Espiunca at the beginning of Monday afternoon, consumed nearly 500 hectares of forest and destroyed 600 meters of the Paiva walkways between the beach do Vau and Espiunca. The fire was controlled by 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and during the afternoon fighting is small foci that rekindled. On the ground, they were still 100 firefighters and three air assets.
Paiva The walkways will be closed next month and a half time to replace the destroyed part and deal with issues that were under review. During this period, the official website of the walkways ( www.passadicosdopaiva.pt ) will work the development account and scheduled visits to the Arouca Geopark will be redirected. The accounts are made and the 600 meters consumed in the gangways mean reinvestment of 130 000 euros in equipment that does not have insurance. The local chamber reveals that it is difficult to deal with this issue and urges the contacts.
The president of Arouca Chamber, Artur Neves, came to fear the worst the boardwalks, the size of it was destroyed higher, the flames reached the wooden staircase in the throat Paiva, one of the most important cards Business this journey of about eight kilometers. After assessing the damage, and a sleepless night, the mayor showed optimism at the end of Tuesday morning. “Within half months, everything is reset and we will take the opportunity to put into operation the entrance control and protect as much as possible, stone dragging what can happen with the rains,” said the PUBLIC by the river near the area destroyed. The local authority is considering the creation of an IT platform that allows to control the number of entries the boardwalks that even on Sunday received about 10 thousand people. The intention is to have a maximum of 3500 visitors per day who will have to sign up beforehand. The collection of entries will advance. Artur Neves speaks in a “symbolic value”, but does not reveal the amount before being approved by local politicians. There is more to do before reopening. “We want to restore the riparian gallery with the first rains for the original covered develops rapidly.” And the car parks will be resized to meet demand. The will to double the length of the walkways and the desire to create, on your route, a museum of mining complex of Rio de Frades and a farm-museum of arouquesa race, not died away with the flames. Artur Neves wants to implement the project, estimated at about four million euros during his municipal term.
The walkways Paiva have access to unexpected situations. The mayor ensures that there is an emergency plan for people and even fires, but nobody expected a fire to such proportions that it has reached mobilize 229 operating, 72 vehicles and seven air assets. “There was a fire of this size for 15 years. It happened this time, in the first year of walkways. We know it’s a risk equipment, but can not give up because there is some risk. ” Artur Neves remains confident. “We have to see the positive side. The fire turned out to be a good test and we will turn this negative into positive moments. “
Show or hide?
The walkways were opened on 20 June and Arouca never received so many visitors on its territory. There is a direct impact on the local economy, there are end-of-week that restaurants have sold out and times when arouquesa meat is not enough for applications. Arouca streets were not used to so much traffic. The debate between preserving or show in wooden walkways a section of nature accompanying the Paiva has fueled many conversations. Artur Neves admits that there is “wisdom” in these discussions, but does not agree with those who argue that the space should stay away from other people’s looks. “Nature has to be lived, felt. The fauna and flora do not reject people live well with them. We want to achieve the balance we want and we have always advocated not want to popularize the walkways “he says. The truth is that the best expectations were exceeded and the turnout exceeded any prognosis. “Nature tourism does not involve masses, but this involved and hence our decision to monitor the entries”.
At lunchtime, Joaquim Cunha, president of the Board of Parishes Union Espiunca / Canelas, joined to men on the street watching the chopper circuit that filled water in Paiva to combat the reacendimentos. “These were difficult days not only by the fire have reached a very large bush area, but above all the masterful work of the walkways.” The mayor is pleased with the demand on the route, with the movement that brought the earth, and agrees with the collection of entries, since “the walkways require a very high maintenance.” “This is a kind of discovery of paradise. Arranging an event that brings seven to eight thousand people a day the space is a thing of another world, “said the mayor. Joaquim Cunha no doubt that the fire has “criminal” even to have started in a very bleak place and later by wind action, come to walkways and reach the banks of the Paiva. “It was very sad. Now it’s time to take to do things differently. “
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