In an interview, the Sub-Regional Commander of Emergency and Civil Protection of Coastal Alentejo explained that the fire, which broke out in Vale da Eira, Ermidas-Sado, in the Setúbal district, is burning in a forest area.
“One of the three fronts is moving towards the municipality of Grândola, another towards Canhestros [municipality of Ferreira do Alentejo], and another heading west, towards Vale da Eira,” in the municipality of Santiago do Cacém, stated the commander.
Albano Pereira, a councilor from the Santiago do Cacém City Council, confirmed that, so far, there is no record of people or houses in danger.
“Reinforcements from other fire departments in the central region, Lisbon, and Almada are being called in,” the councilor said.
According to the Civil Protection Authority’s website, as of 10:20 p.m., the firefighting effort involved 323 personnel supported by 114 vehicles.
The seven aerial units that participated in the operations withdrew as night fell.
The alert for the fire was issued at 4:42 p.m., according to a source from the Coastal Alentejo Emergency and Civil Protection Sub-regional Command.
Earlier in the day, Commander Tiago Bugio explained that the fire was burning in an area of “eucalyptus, pine, and brushwood.”
Tiago Bugio noted that “dry thunderstorms were forecasted” for the area by the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) and that “several thunderclaps were identified in the area” before the fire ignited.
As a result of the fire, road traffic on the Complementary Itinerary 1 (IC1) has been cut off in both directions since 5:00 p.m. in the Ermidas-Sado area, according to the GNR.
By late afternoon, the Sub-Regional Command of Emergency and Civil Protection of Coastal Alentejo assured that, despite the increase in resources on the ground, “no houses or people were threatened by the fire focus.”
