The present work is an analysis of the wildfire that occurred in Tabuaço (Portugal). This wildfire developed in a complex topography and under extreme meteorological conditions. The wind was one of the most difficult factors because it increased the rate of spread of the fire front and increased the number of spot fires in front of the head fire. This kind of situation is very often a source of incidents or accidents. Additionally, the fire progressed in zones where the wildland–urban interface was practically non-existent, but also in the areas where the existence of settlements gave rise to critical points, related to the necessity to protect people and property. The suppression manoeuvres of the fire of Tabuaço were carried out in a way that led to a high level of safety, without victims or serious injuries recorded, and so they can be considered an example of a wildfire fighting approach. The use of fire to fight a fire is an important technique when it is well applied. An analysis of the existing conditions, such as geographic characteristics, meteorological situation, topography, fuels and infrastructures of defence against forest fires and fire development and behaviour, are described and analysed in a detailed way.

Accidents involving hazardous materials during transport are rare but can have severe consequences for human health. This study evaluates accidental railway chemical release scenarios along the Leixões railway line in Matosinhos, Portugal, to assess the influence of diurnal and seasonal meteorological variations on toxic vapour cloud extent and population exposure. Daytime and nighttime, as well as seasonal, scenarios were developed using historical weather data, and a modelling framework integrating the ALOHA^® dispersion software with geographic information system (GIS) tools quantified potential human impacts. Nighttime plumes with low wind speeds of 2.87 m/s and high atmospheric stability were wider and more elongated, particularly in low-risk zones and in confidence areas, resulting in higher population exposure. Daytime plumes with stronger winds of 4.24 m/s and enhanced vertical mixing were more compact and affected fewer individuals. Seasonal patterns further influenced dispersion, with winter and autumn producing moderately elongated plumes with substantial exposure, spring yielding the smallest footprints, and summer generating the largest horizontal plumes, especially in low-risk zones, leading to the highest number of exposed people. These findings highlight the importance of meteorological variability and site-specific conditions in risk assessment, emergency planning, and scheduling of hazardous material transport to minimise population exposure.