In the images shared on social media, Bordalo II shows a road sign with a burned map of Portugal. In the caption, the Portuguese artist writes: "Responsibility, presence, and minimum competence...".

The post, shared on Sunday, August 17, already has over 20,000 likes and over a hundred likes.

This is not the first time Bordalo II has criticised firefighting management in Portugal. Previously, the artist had already made a matchbox in the shape of the country.

It is worth noting that five fires remain active this Monday, August 18, in the districts of Bragança, Guarda, Castelo Branco, and Viseu. The fire in Covilhã, which started in Piódão, is the one that has mobilised the most resources. In total, nearly 4,000 firefighters are currently in operation.

Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple rural fires since July, especially in the North and Central regions, amid high temperatures that led to the declaration of a state of alert on August 2.

On Sunday, the Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, announced that the state of alert due to the heightened risk of fires was extended until midnight on Tuesday.

The state of alert, which began on August 2, had already been renewed until midnight on Sunday, now valid for another 48 hours.

The fires have caused two deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries, most of them minor, and completely or partially destroyed first and second homes, as well as farms, livestock farms, and forested areas.

Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which two Fire Boss aircraft are expected to arrive on Monday to reinforce firefighting efforts.

According to provisional official data, as of August 18, 185,753 hectares had burned in the country, more than the area burned in all of 2024.