“The President of the Republic expresses heartfelt condolences to the family of Daniel Esteves, a forest firefighter from Afocelca, who tragically lost his life following direct combat with forest fires in the municipality of Sabugal,” reads the statement published on the presidency’s page this Saturday.
Afocelca, a forest protection company owned by pulp sector groups Altri and Navigator, also expressed “deep regret” today over the death of their operative, which occurred this morning due to injuries sustained during firefighting operations in Sabugal.
The company also extended “sincere condolences to the worker’s family, colleagues, and friends,” indicating that it is “available to provide all necessary support.”
Altri, associated with Afocelca, offered “the sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Daniel,” further stating in a release that they are “available to, together with Afocelca, provide any necessary support.”
The man, who sustained serious injuries in a fire in Sabugal on Tuesday, died early today, according to a source from the São João Hospital in Porto.
According to the source, the victim “passed away this morning, succumbing to his critical condition.”
The man had burns covering 75% of his body and other pre-existing comorbidities, remaining in a “critical clinical condition” on Thursday.
The victim was stabilized on-site by emergency teams and later transported by INEM helicopter to São João Hospital in Porto.
Regarding the three other individuals injured in the fires and hospitalized in Coimbra Hospital, a press office source stated that “there are no changes” to their clinical status.
One victim, injured in a firefighter truck accident in Covilhã, which also resulted in a fatality, is “stabilized following surgery on Sunday,” according to the source.
Also hospitalized is a nurse with severe burns and a “guarded prognosis,” injured while attempting to assist locals in combating the flames in Vila Franca do Deão, in the Guarda district.
The third individual hospitalized in Coimbra since Thursday is a firefighter from Pinhel, who suffered severe burns in a fire that began Wednesday in Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Guarda district.
According to a source from Coimbra Hospital, the clinical condition of this Pinhel volunteer “is stable.”
Mainland Portugal has been affected by several large-scale rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Center regions.
The fires have caused four deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries, some severe, and have entirely or partially destroyed first and second homes, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forested areas.
Portugal has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which it has two Fire Boss planes and a Super Puma helicopter, with two additional Canadair planes expected to arrive today.
According to provisional official data, about 234,000 hectares have burned across the country until August 22, with more than 53,000 hectares from the fire that began in Arganil alone.
[News updated at 13:16]
