Fire of 1919

After the burning of Madeira’s forests in the lifetime of Gonçalves Zargo, the fire that reached the greatest proportions and caused the most damage was unquestionably the one of August 1919, set by criminal hands. For eight days people worked vigorously to put it out. It began on the 21st in the western part of Madeira and then spread rapidly to other localities on the island. However, the extraordinarily dry, hot wind that the islanders call the leste (hot, dry easterly wind from Africa), which blew with unusual violence from that day until 27 August, repeatedly thwarted the efforts of those who, with the greatest courage and devotion, strove in a fiery atmosphere to halt the advance of the terrible destroying element. Several times it was feared that the fires would reach the villages, some of which, as is well known, lie near the middle region of the island. Fortunately this was avoided, even though the wind greatly hampered the work of containing the fire’s devastation. In the upland region some small buildings were consumed by the flames, many livestock were lost and many crops were ruined, but there were no serious casualties, although some people were slightly injured while fighting the fires. On 28 and 29 August some rain fell in the mountains, and this did much to put out completely the fires that in the preceding days had destroyed many of our finest forests, causing losses of more than 2,000 contos across the whole island.

In the municipality (concelho) of Porto Moniz, the woods around Ribeira da Janela and Fanal suffered badly; in that of São Vicente, those on the edge of the Paul, at Lombada das Vacas, Lombo da Palha and the uplands of Ponta Delgada (Serra da Ponta Delgada); in that of Sant'Ana, those of Arco de São Jorge and Faial; in that of Machico, those of Pico da Suna and Lamaceiros; in that of Funchal, those of São Roque and Monte; in that of Câmara de Lobos, those of Ribeiro Garcia and Fontainhas; in that of Ribeira Brava, those of Serra de Água; and in that of Calheta, those of Lombada Gorda, Ribeira dos Moinhos, Rabaçal and the edge of the Paul da Serra.

At Rabaçal, the locality (sítio) that travellers explore so enthusiastically for the superb scenery it offers, the damage was not total, and the houses suffered nothing, thanks to the effort and dedication devoted to saving them. At Monte and São Roque the fire took on truly frightening proportions, covering an area of several kilometres and threatening to destroy a great number of dwellings. At Bica da Cana (‘reed spout’), on the Paul da Serra, the plantations laid out there by the Agricultural Board (Junta Agrícola) were badly damaged.

In the grave crisis the island went through, good service was rendered by the civil governor, General Simões Soares, the Military Commander, Colonel Veiga, the forestry officer (regente silvícola) Schiappa de Azevedo, the forestry staff and various detachments of the 27th Infantry Regiment (Infantaria 27). All of them, within the limits of their duties, worked with perseverance and used every means available to contain and put out the fires. Where there was little zeal and energy was in seeking out the arsonists and handing them over to the judicial authorities, so that they might be punished without leniency. The indulgence with which the enemies of our forests have always been treated is the main cause of the stripping of the mountains, and of the island having suffered on various occasions the damage caused by torrents and floods.