The spokesperson for PAN, Inês Sousa Real, expressed her concern about the numerous fires burning across different regions of mainland Portugal, noting that the fire in Arouca, in the Aveiro district, is of particular concern according to Civil Protection authorities.
“It is impossible not to feel heartbroken because of the fires that continue to relentlessly affect the populations of Ponte da Barca, Ponte de Lima, and Arouca,” she wrote.
Inês Sousa Real also extended her gratitude to “all the operational staff and volunteers on the ground facing the flames and seeking to protect people and animals.”
The national commander of Emergency and Civil Protection, Mário Silvestre, stated on Tuesday that the fire in Arouca, in the Aveiro district, “is the most concerning” at the moment, and all efforts and reinforcements are being directed there.
The fire that broke out on Monday currently has three active fronts, necessitating the confinement of the village of Vila Viçosa, as reported by local authorities and Civil Protection.
É impossível não estarmos de coração apertado por causa dos incêndios que continuam a não dar tréguas às populações de Ponte de Barca, Ponte de Lima e Arouca.
Obrigada a todos os operacionais e voluntários que no terreno enfrentam as chamas e procuram proteger pessoas e animais pic.twitter.com/WvJsFzFx7I— Inês Sousa Real (@InesSousaReal) July 29, 2025
Civil Protection also reported that in the fire in Ponte da Barca, in the Viana do Castelo district—which ignited on Saturday night—two firefighters and two forest rangers sustained minor injuries.
In statements to the Lusa news agency, the sub-regional commander of Vale do Ave of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), Rui Costa, stated that, “as a precaution,” the four operatives were sent to the Santa Luzia hospital in Viana do Castelo.
As for the fires in Penamacor and Lindoso, the commander of Civil Protection said that the “situation is quite controlled,” with Penamacor expected to enter “resolution in the coming hours.” The commander added, “By 8 a.m., only 30% of the fire was active.”
The Lindoso fire presents some “suppression problems” due to the complex topography, rendering some burning areas completely inaccessible to firefighting personnel.
Regarding the burned areas, Mário Silvestre stated that preliminary data indicates 511 hectares were burned in Penamacor, while Lindoso has seen up to 2,000 hectares burn so far.
The fires in Penamacor and Lindoso are “quite controlled,” with Penamacor expected to enter “resolution in the coming hours.”
Carolina Pereira Soares with Lusa | 12:12 – 29/07/2025
Fires? “The fight is everyone’s”
Also on Tuesday, after a visit to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), Prime Minister Luís Montenegro emphasized that “the fight [against fires] is everyone’s” and that “collaboration from all is needed.”
He also highlighted the importance of heeding the “warnings, advisories, and guidance provided by the authorities” to prevent new fires.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Internal Administration, Lúcia Amaral—who accompanied the visit—highlighted that, considering the fires currently of most concern to authorities, “the existence of 72, 76, or 80 aerial resources” would be irrelevant, “because what challenges the operatives is the extremely accidental nature of the terrain’s topography, the access difficulty.”
“The complexity of operations and fighting is such that it doesn’t help much to know how many aerial resources we have, whether many are missing or not. In fact, none are missing,” she added.
Luís Montenegro emphasized that “the fight is everyone’s” and therefore “requires everyone’s collaboration.”
Carolina Pereira Soares with Lusa | 14:21 – 29/07/2025
Significant occurrences
According to information available on the Civil Protection’s website, the fire in Penamacor has 416 operatives on-site, supported by 129 vehicles and five aerial resources.
In Ponte da Barca, 408 operatives are fighting the fire, along with 133 vehicles and one aerial resource. In Arouca, 684 operatives have been mobilized, supported by 228 vehicles and four aerial resources.
There are also other fires to report in other regions of the country, such as Nisa, Tondela, Penafiel, or Sever do Vouga.
