After being reactivated on Saturday and threatening several villages, the fire was brought under control in the early hours, only to resurrect in the Galegos da Serra region during the afternoon.
Onsite were a team from the National Republican Guard’s (GNR) Emergency Protection and Rescue Unit (UEPS) and a helicopter, supported by firefighters and two airplanes.
The residents of Galegos, worried about the fire crossing the road and river, were vigilant to prevent it from reaching nearby homes and warehouses.
Diogo Oliveira cut a branch of green broom, ready to act if the fire approached his barn. “Just to see if we can do something about it,” he told the Lusa news agency. Oliveira, a shepherd with 25 goats, expressed the challenges faced since the fire began at 11:45 PM on the 2nd, mentioning the lack of peace since then.
“This summer is hard, never seen anything like this year,” he noted, staying alert to ensure the fire does not reach the village.
The night was spent on the road battling flames, which flared back up during the afternoon. “Who knows when this will end,” he lamented, noting the burnt pastures and the little that remains “just under the road.”
He asked, “Now with the whole mountain burnt, where will the goats graze?”
Isaurinda da Silva brought a bucket handy to help extinguish flames if necessary.
On Sunday, the fires descended the mountain, prompting the community to band together through the night to, as a resident mentioned, “protect the house” of the entire community.
Killy Oliveira was among them, remaining on alert until 5:00 AM, fearing the fire would reach the village. Upon learning of the fire’s resurgence, she returned, broom in hand.
“We’re here again to see if we can help with anything,” she remarked, pointing to the stressful days endured in the Alvão Natural Park.
Manuel Oliveira, who owns a warehouse at the village’s entrance, expressed frustration: “It’s slightly difficult because just last night people were here until 5:00 AM putting out the fire, the firefighters don’t seem to care, I don’t know if it’s their fault, Civil Protection’s, or if there is poor coordination, but if they are poorly coordinated, whoever is in charge should resign.”
He added, “A fire, when small, should be controlled immediately, not allowed to grow stronger and then regret it.” According to Manuel Oliveira, “If they had extinguished the small fires, none of this would have happened.”
Filinto Peixoto Dias stated, “I haven’t turned 80 yet, but I’m close, and I don’t remember anything like this. A small fire in any village was normal, but this, all over. It ignited in Sirarelhos and has been very challenging.”
According to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), the fire reached a resolution phase at 4:24 AM, with 304 personnel, supported by 100 vehicles and four aircraft, still mobilized for this situation by 5:00 PM.
