“Very, very, very concerning. The National Road 203 has been closed again. We have very concerning situations with fire hotspots threatening homes. I am very worried. The fire is completely out of control”, stated Augusto Marinho.
In statements to the agency Lusa, the social-democratic mayor, who today activated the Municipal Emergency and Civil Protection Plan, expressed fear that “the situation may worsen during the night”.
“We have resources positioned in an attempt to protect people and homes. We recently had a fire hotspot near a day center. The fire is sweeping through inaccessible areas. Air resources are essential, and thus, as night falls, I become very worried. The ground personnel is heavily engaged on both sides of Serra Amarela, as homes are threatened in several areas”, he highlighted.
According to Augusto Marinho, “the operatives on the ground are already showing a lot of fatigue,” emphasizing the “importance of their relief”.
“At this moment, all resources are necessary. There is widespread dispersion of fire hotspots making combat very difficult, with constant reignitions”, he stressed, pointing out various locations in the Union of Parishes of Entre-Ambos-os-Rios, Ermida, and Germil as “more concerning”.
A firetruck skidded off the road in the area of Rebordões, Ponte de Lima, causing five minor injuries. The vehicle was on its way to reinforce the fire-fighting effort in Ponte da Barca.
Márcia Guímaro Rodrigues with Lusa | 15:31 – 28/07/2025
The fire “has already caused significant damage, killing livestock and consuming outbuildings and agricultural tools, among others”, he noted, adding that he spoke with the Secretary of State for Civil Protection who “assured him that all available aerial resources are allocated to the fire in Ponte da Barca”.
As of 5:00 PM, according to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) website, five aerial resources, 396 operatives, and 123 vehicles were mobilized.
