More than 3,500 personnel were battling 37 active fires across the country as of 8:00 a.m., with six requiring the largest response, according to the Civil Protection authorities.
The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) reported a deployment of 3,569 operatives supported by 1,200 ground vehicles.
The most significant fires occurred in Sátão (Viseu) and Arganil (Coimbra), which engaged a total of 1,675 responders on the scene.
The blaze in Vila Boa, within the Sátão municipality in the Viseu district, started early Wednesday and spread to the municipalities of Sernancelhe (Viseu) and Aguiar da Beira (Guarda), involving 847 personnel and 285 vehicles by 8:00 a.m.
The fire in Arganil, ignited in the parish of Piódão early Wednesday, was reportedly caused by dry thunderstorm activity and involved 828 personnel with 290 ground vehicles.
In Trancoso, in the Guarda district, 515 responders were battling a fire that expanded to Fornos de Algodres, Aguiar da Beira, Celorico da Beira, and Sernancelhe, supported by 178 ground vehicles.
Also in Trancoso, a fire that began Wednesday in A-do-Cavalo had mobilized 52 firefighters.
In the Lousã mountain range, Coimbra district, a fire initiated on Wednesday required 290 operatives and 87 vehicles as it advanced “with two fronts,” prompting precautionary evacuations of 53 people from several villages.
The fire in Portalegre municipality had 246 personnel with 81 ground vehicles by 8:00 a.m. today.
The Cinfães (Viseu) fire involved 100 operatives and 28 vehicles on the ground.
These fires are the largest currently classified as active rural fires by Civil Protection, signifying their significance due to duration or resources involved.
Already under control but still significant, the Tabuaço (Viseu) fire involved 164 responders, while the Sirarelhos, Vila Real fire, which consumed the Alvão mountain, had 176 personnel on site.
Portugal is on alert for fire risk since August 2, with fires particularly affecting the north and center regions, consuming over half of the approximately 75,000 hectares burned this year.
The fire alert has been extended until Sunday, announced Thursday by Internal Administration Minister Maria Lúcia Amaral following a visit to the ANEPC.
“Facing the adversity of 22 consecutive days of intense heat showing no signs of easing, the government will once again extend the alert status until Sunday,” the minister told reporters.
Maria Lúcia Amaral emphasized that all restrictions and prohibitions imposed by the heightened fire risk alert remain in place.
