The municipality of Oliveira do Hospital, located in the interior of the Coimbra district and affected by the large Arganil fire, reports the highest number of affected dwellings, totaling five, followed by Lousã with two in the same district.
Regarding the five affected homes, the mayor, Francisco Rolo, stated on Thursday that two are situated in the parish of Avô, another two in Vila Pouca da Beira, and one in Aldeia das Dez.
The Oliveira do Hospital City Hall is conducting a damage assessment plan based on three fundamental pillars—people, safety, and losses—which will commence on Monday, involving around three dozen members from municipal services, parish councils, social security, or health institutions, among others.
In Lousã, the fires that broke out on the 14th in Candal destroyed a primary residence mobile home in Silveira de Cima and another under reconstruction for primary living in Cabanões.
In the Guarda district, a primary residence in Aguiar da Beira burned down, according to the town’s mayor, Virgílio Cunha, who noted several dwellings with damage but without displacing residents.
The Aguiar da Beira municipality began being affected on the 13th and 14th by fires originating in Trancoso, Guarda district, and Sernancelhe and Sátão, Viseu district.
Additionally, a primary residence was destroyed in Fornos de Algodres.
The municipalities of Penamacor and Castelo Branco each recorded one house destroyed by fire in this district.
The Government has established support for the reconstruction of primary residence homes affected by rural fires in recent weeks, providing “100% coverage up to a maximum of 250,000 euros,” as announced by the prime minister on Thursday.
The residual amount, according to Luís Montenegro, will be 85% covered.
The prime minister revealed this during a briefing following a Council of Ministers dedicated to fires, held in Viseu. The plan is part of a new “legislative instrument” approved by the PSD/CDS-PP executive, set to “operate as a framework law” for similar emergencies.
With this initiative, the Government may provide, as of today, up to approximately 2.5 million euros.
Continental Portugal has been severely affected by large rural fires since July, mainly in the North and Center regions.
The fires have resulted in three fatalities, including a firefighter, and numerous injuries, some severe, along with the total or partial destruction of primary and secondary residences, as well as agricultural and livestock properties and forest areas.
Portugal has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, which provides two Fire Boss planes and one Super Puma helicopter, with two more Canadair planes expected to arrive.
Provisional official data indicates that by August 21, 234,000 hectares had burned in the country, over 53,000 of which were due to the fire that started in Arganil.
