A meeting of the Municipal Civil Protection Commission was held this morning, resulting in a significant decision.
“Considering that the reason for the activation of the Municipal Emergency Civil Protection Plan last week is being resolved and after consulting the Municipal Civil Protection Commission, I hereby determine (…) the deactivation of the Arouca Municipal Emergency Protection Plan, effective from 11:30 a.m.,” stated the order signed by the mayor, Margarida Belém.
Regarding the damage caused by the fire, a municipal source indicated that it is not yet possible to provide precise information about the damages, as assessments are ongoing.
“The burned area covers 3,900 hectares, with several unburned islands in the middle, which will significantly reduce this area,” the same source reported.
The fire ravaged Arouca from July 28 until last Friday and spread to the municipalities of Castelo de Paiva and Cinfães. It was battled by over 700 operational personnel and various aerial resources, consuming approximately 4,000 hectares of forest.
The blaze caused damage to a vacant house, some agricultural outbuildings, minor damage to two residences, and destroyed parts of the Paiva Walkways, which are a key contributor to Arouca’s local economy.
According to the website of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, at 4:00 p.m., 75 operational personnel and 29 vehicles remained on site for monitoring purposes.
