A total of 3,597 personnel, supported by 1,194 ground vehicles, were deployed at midnight in the most affected areas, according to the website of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC).
The fire in Arganil, in the Coimbra district, which broke out on Wednesday, involved 821 personnel and 289 vehicles, while in Lousã, in the same district, 503 personnel with 157 vehicles were deployed.
The fire that ignited in Sátão on Wednesday merged with the fire that began in Trancoso more than a week ago (August 9), spreading to 11 municipalities in the Viseu and Guarda districts.
The 11 municipalities affected are: Sátão, Sernancelhe, Moimenta da Beira, Penedono, and São João da Pesqueira (Viseu district); Aguiar da Beira, Trancoso, Fornos de Algodres, Mêda, Celorico da Beira, and Vila Nova de Foz Côa (Guarda district).
The official ANEPC website lists resources allocated to both original fire sources.
According to Civil Protection, at midnight, the Sátão fire had 721 personnel and 244 vehicles engaged, while the fronts originating in Trancoso had 433 personnel supported by 144 vehicles.
In Poiares, Freixo de Espada à Cinta (Bragança), in the Douro region, a fire that started on Friday involved 257 personnel and 93 ground vehicles, while in Sabugal (Guarda) 185 personnel and 54 vehicles were engaged in the effort.
Also in Guarda, in Pêra do Moço, the battle against the flames involved 160 personnel and 60 vehicles.
In Tarouca, Viseu district, 127 personnel supported by 34 vehicles were deployed.
In Vila Real district, in Mondim de Basto, a fire mobilized 175 personnel with the support of 52 vehicles.
Continental Portugal has been affected by multiple rural fires since July, especially in the North and Center regions, amidst high temperatures which have prompted the declaration of a state of alert, in effect until Sunday.
The fires have resulted in one fatality and several injuries, mostly minor, and have completely or partially destroyed primary and secondary homes, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forested areas.
Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which two Fire Boss airplanes are expected to arrive on Monday to strengthen firefighting efforts.
According to provisional official data, 139,000 hectares have burned in the country until August 16, 17 times more than in the same period of 2024. Nearly half of this area was consumed in just two days this week.
