The fire in Quintelas, Mondrões, began at 8:46 p.m. on Monday, advancing in a difficult-to-access area, which complicated the firefighting efforts. As of 11 a.m. today, approximately 60 personnel and 17 vehicles remained on the ground, supported by aerial resources.
Firefighters continue to monitor hotspots and possible re-ignitions.
The Alvão mountain range in Vila Real was previously affected by a major fire from August 2 to 13, which spread to Mondim de Basto, burning 6,000 hectares, including approximately 1,500 hectares in the Alvão Natural Park.
In the Vila Real municipality, the fire impacted seven parishes and 30 localities.
The Alvão mountain range spans Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Ribeira de Pena, Vila Real, and Mondim de Basto, and in early August, fires burned areas across these four municipalities in three separate incidents (Sirarelhos, Pinduradouro, and Alvadia).
Data collected from official sources indicate that the fire starting in Pinduradouro, Vila Pouca de Aguiar, consumed about 500 hectares, while the fire in Alvadia, Ribeira de Pena, burned around 600 hectares.
In total, approximately 7,100 hectares have burned in the Alvão mountain range.
Since July, mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple large-scale rural fires, mainly in the North and Central regions.
The fires have resulted in four fatalities, including a firefighter, and several injuries, some serious, as well as the partial or total destruction of primary and secondary residences, along with agricultural and livestock operations and forested areas.
According to provisional official data, approximately 250,000 hectares were burned nationwide by August 23, with over 57,000 hectares in the fire that began in Arganil alone.
Foreign aerial resources engaged in combating forest fires under the European Civil Protection Mechanism will remain in Portugal until Friday, as confirmed by the ANEPC.
