Artur Mota stated that by 10:30 PM, the active fronts in Cocanha and Bustelo were burning with “moderate intensity” and that the rest of the fire’s perimeter was “entering into overhaul.”
At this hour, there were no situations causing concern, after an afternoon in which flames had reached the business park in Outeiro Seco, in the industrial zone of Cocanha, on the outskirts of the city of Chaves, and Bustelo.
According to Artur Mota, the upcoming hours will involve significant overhaul work, containment, and work with the five trail machines on the ground, where the wind continued to blow intensely.
By 10:45 PM, according to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) website, 500 personnel and 159 land resources were deployed to the ongoing situation.
An hour earlier, at 9:40 PM, the A24 highway had been reopened in both directions between the Casino and Vila Verde da Raia junctions, on the border with Spain, according to a GNR source.
The fire, which has been raging for several days in the Galicia region of Spain, reached the Chaves municipality on Tuesday, entered resolution at 10:35 AM today, and reactivated in the afternoon, moving towards Vila Verde da Raia and Bustelo.
The mayor of Chaves, Nuno Vaz, stated that an assessment of the damages caused by the fire would be conducted after the incident concludes.
He said, however, that today the municipal council attempted to ascertain if there is a more critical situation requiring urgent response for cattle feed, due to the loss of pasture, hay, or straw.
In the industrial zone, it affected a yard where tons of wood intended for sale were burned.
The fire spread very quickly and unpredictably across the Chaves municipality, affecting several villages from the border, including Cambedo, Vilela Seca, Couto, Torre, Agrelos, Outeiro Seco, Bustelo, the business park, and the industrial zone of Cocanha.
The sub-regional commander of Alto Tâmega and Barroso had already informed that the fire is estimated to have affected 5,000 hectares of burned area.
Strong winds are proving to be one of the main challenges in combating the flames.
On Monday, the fire had already crossed the border in the Vilar de Perdizes area, in the Montalegre municipality, also in the northern district of Vila Real.
