“A total of 2,600 hectares burned. Among the burnt areas, which included pine trees, eucalyptus, and the entire forest area, it’s difficult to estimate the losses, but I can say it amounts to around one million euros. Our largest loss was not only financial, but also environmental,” emphasized Alexandre Vaz.
The mayor stated that “almost the entire forest perimeter of São Matias, which is managed by the parish council and the ICNF” (Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests), along with more private land, especially pine trees and eucalyptus, was burned.
The President of the Sátão Municipality, in the district of Viseu, spoke to the Lusa agency regarding the fire that originated in his municipality, in Vila Boa, Ferreira de Aves parish, on August 13.
This fire merged on August 15 with another that had started on August 9 in Trancoso, district of Guarda, affecting a total of 11 municipalities from both districts. It was resolved at 22:00 on August 17.
Regarding other losses caused by the fire, Alexandre Vaz estimated “about half a million euros, mainly in agricultural crops, and there is one situation, so far the only one, of a gentleman who suffered damages in materials and equipment related to his civil construction business.”
From the municipal assets, “there are approximately 120,000 euros in damages, mainly in signage, water pipes, and road paintings.”
In the Sátão municipality, “there were also three secondary residences that suffered damage.” According to him, “two of them were not in great living conditions, mainly the roof burned down.”
“A third was inhabited, belonging to people who live in Viseu and who had refurbished the house here, and this one suffered some damages, besides the roof,” said the mayor.
Alexandre Vaz indicated that, “in principle, the central government does not support secondary residences,” and for this reason, he met with the owners to “inform them that if the central administration does not assist, the municipality will offer support.”
“We will allocate part of our budget to offer support, not entirely, but partially, specifically for the roof, to encourage the owners to restore their homes,” he mentioned.
Another form of support the municipality will provide is “a discount on the water bill, which is understandable, but it will also support the purchase of firewood that burned, as there is no central government support for this either.”
“Winters are very cold, and some of the wood that people had stored and neatly arranged burned, and we will contribute to replenishing this wood,” pledged Alexandre Vaz.
