The fire in Arganil, Coimbra district, which has spread to three municipalities in the Castelo Branco district (Castelo Branco, Fundão, and Covilhã), involved 1,591 firefighters and 538 ground vehicles, as reported by the National Authority of Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC).
Meanwhile, the forest fire ongoing in Sabugal, Guarda district, which reached the Penamacor municipality in Castelo Branco district on Monday afternoon, was being battled by 440 personnel and 122 vehicles as of 4:30 AM today.
The fire that entered Chaves (Vila Real) from Spain had three active fronts as of 4:00 AM today, with 330 firefighters and 107 vehicles on the ground at 4:30 AM.
Fires that ignited in Mirandela (Bragança) on Sunday reached several villages in the Vila Flor municipality, maintaining an active front on Tuesday night, but intensity was decreasing. By early morning, 313 firefighters with 107 vehicles were on-site.
In Carrazeda de Ansiães, also in the Bragança district, the fire that broke out on Tuesday night had two active fronts, with 121 firefighters and 35 vehicles deployed.
Across the country, 3,790 firefighters were actively engaged, supported by over 1,200 ground vehicles.
José Ribeiro, Deputy National Commander for Emergency and Civil Protection, reported in a press conference that by 5:00 PM on Tuesday, “a total of 59 new occurrences” had been recorded.
Continental Portugal has been affected by multiple rural fires since July, mainly in the Northern and Central regions, amidst high temperatures prompting an alert status since August 2.
The fires have resulted in two fatalities, including a firefighter, and several injuries, mostly minor. They have also partially or completely destroyed primary and secondary residences, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forested areas.
Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which two Fire Boss aircraft arrived to aid in firefighting efforts.
According to provisional official data, by Tuesday, over 201,000 hectares had burned across the country, surpassing the total area burned in all of 2024.
