“The fire is now more intense in the neighboring municipalities of Pinhel and Trancoso, and this front is a cause for concern in that area of the municipality,” said the president of Guarda Town Council, Sérgio Costa.
The official added that local residents and parish council teams with off-road vehicles equipped with fire-fighting kits are on site “to tackle the flames and maintain vigilance.”
The fire began this morning in Pêra do Moço at 10:45 a.m.
According to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), by 11:00 p.m., 253 personnel and 89 vehicles were combating the fire.
The president of Guarda Town Council also revealed there is “another concern” about the fire progressing from the neighboring municipality of Sabugal.
“It is completely out of control and advancing from Vila do Touro in Sabugal to the borders of the Guarda municipality. Villages such as Pega, Quinta de Gonçalo Martins, and Carvalhal Meão are in the line of fire, where we are already starting to position the few available resources,” he stated.
According to the ANEPC website, by 11:00 p.m., the fire mobilized 79 personnel and 21 vehicles.
The municipality of Pinhel is also facing several active fronts tonight, due to the fire that began in the morning in Pêra do Moço, in the neighboring Guarda municipality.
“The situation is evolving, but I cannot say positively, as everything changes from one moment to the next,” stated Daniela Capelo, vice-president of Pinhel Town Council.
The official highlighted that the villages of Cerejo, Alverca da Beira, Prados, and Freixedas were affected by the flames, and there are reports of “several houses burned down.”
“There are few resources on the ground; I have only seen the firefighters from Pinhel and Almeida. The municipal civil protection is providing all possible support within its capabilities,” Daniela Capelo added.
The fire that broke out in Pêra do Moço resulted in one death, the former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, Carlos Dâmaso, and one person was seriously injured and transported to Coimbra University Hospital due to burns sustained.
Portugal is on alert due to the fire risk since August 2, and in recent weeks several fires in the north and center of the country have consumed more than half of the approximately 75,000 hectares burned this year.
The alert status was extended until Sunday, announced the Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, after a visit to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC).
