“The costs in some theaters of operations are very high, very significant for the budgets of Humanitarian Associations. We have a set of streamlined mechanisms to quickly reimburse all expenses, which in some cases are very significant”, stated at the end of a meeting in Ponte da Barca.
The meeting, the first in a “tour” that Rui Rocha will undertake through municipalities affected by fires, was to inform the municipality, firefighters, the GNR, and other entities in Ponte da Barca in the district of Viana do Castelo, that the Government has decided to “streamline the advance payment up to the amount of 50,000 euros” without the immediate need for expense proof submission.
Rui Rocha said the “most important thing right now is to ensure the treasury management of the Volunteer Firefighters’ Humanitarian Associations, extending the obligation to submit expense proofs up to 30 days and, in some cases, until the end of the year.”
“The Government will not be a problem, it will be part of the solution, and therefore, we have at this moment the streamlining of processes and fast payments”, stated Rui Rocha, who declined to answer further questions from journalists.
The meeting also included the participation of José Manuel Moura, president of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection.
Following the Council of Ministers, Luís Montenegro addressed the Portuguese people and announced a package of 45 measures to support individuals and businesses affected by fires, including the waiver of co-payments (which have not existed since 2022).
Natacha Nunes Costa with Lusa | 08:48 – 22/08/2025
The fire in the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG), the country’s only national park, consumed 5,786 hectares of that protected natural area, according to provisional data from the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests (ICNF), as revealed by an official source to Lusa.
The fire, which broke out on July 26 in Ponte da Barca and was declared under control a week later, reached a total area of 7,550 hectares, of which 5,786 hectares belong to the PNPG, as specified by the same ICNF source in a yet non-definitive survey.
The PNPG covers an area of 69,596 hectares and spans the districts of Braga (municipality of Terras de Bouro), Viana do Castelo (municipalities of Melgaço, Arcos de Valdevez, and Ponte da Barca), and Vila Real (municipality of Montalegre).
Portugal’s mainland has been affected by multiple large rural fires since July, especially in the Northern and Central regions.
The fires have caused three deaths, including one firefighter, and several injuries, some severe, and have destroyed partially or completely first and second homes as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forested areas.
Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which it has access to two Fire Boss aircraft and one Super Puma helicopter, with two more Canadair planes expected to arrive today.
According to provisional official data, by August 22, around 234,000 hectares have burned in the country, more than 53,000 of which were in the fire that started in Arganil.
