The fire in Ponte da Barca, located in the Viana do Castelo district, was declared “under control” this Sunday by Civil Protection Commander Elísio Oliveira during an interview with journalists.
The commander cautioned that the fire has not yet entered the aftermath phase and that there might be reactivations in the area. The fire is regarded as under control because “according to what is foreseeable, it should not exit the affected perimeter.”
The flames are thus managed by the crews on the ground, who will remain there, as there are still “small active outbreaks” in the area, “but without significant issues.”
Elísio Oliveira mentioned that there are “places where combat is still ongoing, others are in the aftermath stage, and others in the aftermath consolidation stage,” but in “most areas,” only “surveillance” is happening.
“In large parts of the perimeter, after-action operations are already being conducted, but to enter that phase (…) there is still some time needed,” the commander explained.
The fire in Ponte da Barca has been burning for over a week.
