At 11:00, Commander Marco Domingues from the Alto sub-regional command stated that the fire is expected to be under control within the next few hours.
“Our first strategic goal is to prevent deaths and serious injuries. The second goal is to prevent property losses, especially primary residences, and the third is to ensure the fire does not reach the Cabril forest. All objectives have been successfully met,” Marco Domingues said.
The operation’s leader emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant, given the “high unpredictability” of a fire that has already burned “more than seven thousand hectares.”
“The objectives have been met, but that does not preclude the possibility of complications arising and leading to more severe issues. The operation is not yet over. We still have several days of work ahead, but it will not involve direct combat, instead focusing on aftermath and consolidation,” he warned.
Marco Domingues noted that “the smoke is very low, obstructing aerial interventions due to lack of visibility,” but added that this also prevents the formation of “atmospheric convective currents that could fuel the fire.”
On Thursday night, about 60 residents from the villages of Sobredo and Paradela were evacuated due to the proximity of the flames.
The fire, which started on Saturday night in Lindoso, within the Peneda-Gerês National Park (PNPG), “resulted in 20 minor injuries, including one civilian,” he confirmed.
According to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), as of 11:10, the fire engaged 661 personnel, supported by 220 vehicles and six aerial resources.
The PNPG covers 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), encompassing a total area of approximately 70,290 hectares.
