“The situation is more or less under control. The aerial resources were crucial, we had 11 aircraft operating during the afternoon, and this aided the work of the operatives and the population on the ground,” stated the mayor of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Carlos Condesso.
The alert for the fire in the União de Freguesias de Cinco Vilas e Reigada was given at 14:58, and the battle against the flames continued to involve 120 personnel, 29 vehicles, and one aerial resource at 20:00, according to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) website.
Carlos Condesso noted that thus far only brush and some cork oaks have burned.
“Fortunately, almond groves, olive groves, and vineyards were spared, thanks to the prompt response of firefighters, locals, and aerial means,” he emphasized.
By late afternoon, the fire maintained an active front about three kilometers long between the locality of Cinco Vilas and the boundary of the Almeida municipality.
“The fire progressed along the margin of the Côa River, heading north-south, and is moving towards the Almeida municipality, which it will reach if it crosses the river,” added Carlos Condesso.
Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple large rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Center regions.
The fires have resulted in three fatalities, including one firefighter, and several injuries, some severe. They have also 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 aircraft arrived to bolster firefighting efforts.
According to provisional official data, as of August 20, more than 222,000 hectares had burned in the country, surpassing the area burned in all of 2024.
