The new service is operational at the Technical Forestry Office, located on Avenida 25 de Abril in the center of the town in the district of Aveiro and Greater Porto Metropolitan Area. It is aimed at assisting farmers affected by the July fires, which impacted the parishes of Alvarenga, Santa Eulália, Tropêço, Canelas, Espiunca, Arouca, and Burgo.
An official source from the municipality emphasized that, for now, applications are only open for requests related to “the loss of animals, annual crops, perennial plantations, and agricultural machinery, equipment, and support facilities,” while noting that the office’s goal is to “assist anyone who needs help accessing aid.”
Regarding the number of affected property owners, the same source indicated, based on preliminary surveys conducted by the municipality’s Social Action technicians on the ground: “To date, 150 individuals have reported damages. An initial assessment estimates losses around 10 million euros.”
The wildfire, which ignited on July 28 in a forested area of Arouca and was controlled by August 1, consumed approximately 4,000 hectares of land.
According to the Arouca City Council, available funds are designated for interventions outlined in Decree-Law No. 98-A/2025 of August 24, which specifies support measures and mitigation of rural fire impacts, particularly regarding the acquisition of immediate goods, extraordinary financial incentives for job retention, and the restoration of agricultural production potential.
