A firefighter from the corporation died in the accident, as announced by the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC).
An official source from the League, responsible for communication, later informed Lusa of receiving confirmation that a second firefighter had also died. However, around 10:20 PM, this information was corrected, explaining that the Civil Protection indicated the operative was, at that time, in the operating room.
This detail was also conveyed to Lusa by the ANEPC at the same hour.
With the death of a firefighter recorded today, the number of fatalities during this rural fire season has increased to two.
The accident also resulted in four injuries. There was contradictory information regarding the death of a second operative, with António Nunes, president of the Portuguese Firefighters League (LBP), in a statement to SIC Notícias, not confirming the news.
Catarina Correia Rocha with Lusa | 9:47 PM – 08/17/2025
According to the Sub-Regional Command of Beiras and Serra da Estrela of Civil Protection, the accident occurred in the village of São Francisco de Assis, in the municipality of Covilhã, in the district of Castelo Branco, which also includes the municipality of Fundão.
The command reported that 26 operatives were mobilized to the site, supported by nine vehicles and one aerial means, including resources from the Volunteer Firefighters of Covilhã and Fundão, the National Republican Guard (GNR), and the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM).
Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple rural fires since July, especially in the North and Center regions, in a context of high temperatures that prompted the declaration of a state of alert since August 2.
The fires have caused two deaths, including one firefighter, and several injuries, mostly minor, and have completely or partially destroyed primary and secondary homes, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forest areas.
Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which two Fire Boss planes are expected to arrive on Monday to reinforce firefighting efforts.
According to provisional official data, as of August 17, 172,000 hectares have burned in the country, more than the area burned in the entire year of 2024.
[Updated at 11:28 PM]
