Concern has escalated over the progression of a wildfire in Arganil, with its mayor, Luís Paulo Costa, expressing serious worries about the situation. Various fire fronts developed near the origin point in the Piódão parish as of Wednesday. These fronts are nearly ten kilometers from the initial outbreak site.
“Currently, the Mata da Margaraça is threatened by the fire. It has not yet been consumed, but the flames are in proximity, on the same hillside. Efforts are ongoing to contain the blaze there, yet the situation remains difficult,” stated Costa.
Costa further detailed that the fire became uncontrollable early in the morning, between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m., exacerbated by strong and shifting winds.
Throughout the night, the fire descended the steep slopes of the Serra do Açor, endangering the villages of Moura da Serra and Casarias as it traveled through surrounding valleys and ridges.
The fire progressed toward the Alto de Vinhó area, near the village of Cerdeira and downstream of Parrozelos, crossing national road 344 that connects Coja to Piódão.
This fire front now threatens the protected zone of Mata da Margaraça, located on the hillside overlooking this natural space.
Another front, which threatened Sorgaçosa on Thursday afternoon, is reportedly moving towards Agroal, near the parish seat of Pomares, according to Costa.
An additional blaze front is advancing southwest toward Porto Castanheiro, located near the route for the Arganil stage of the Portugal Rally.
As of 10:50 a.m., the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection reported that 911 operatives, supported by 307 vehicles and ten aircraft, were battling the Arganil fire.
