The president of the Covilhã City Council, Vitor Pereira, has announced the declaration of three days of municipal mourning starting this Monday, as stated in a note sent to the Lusa news agency.
“It is with profound grief and regret that the Covilhã City Council has learned of the passing of a firefighter from the Humanitarian Association of Voluntary Firefighters of Covilhã, who was a victim of a fire truck accident while en route to a wildfire,” the note reads.
The accident also resulted in injuries to four firefighters, one of whom is in serious condition.
The president extends wishes for a “speedy recovery” to those injured and, on behalf of the entire executive, expresses “heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, the Voluntary Firefighters of Covilhã, and all firefighters and civil protection agents who continue fighting the wildfires in the municipality of Covilhã and throughout the country.”
Mainland Portugal has been plagued by numerous rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Center regions, amid high temperatures that prompted a state of alert declared since August 2.
The fires have resulted in two fatalities, including a firefighter, and several injuries, mostly minor, while also destroying or partially damaging primary and secondary residences, agricultural and livestock enterprises, and forest areas.
Portugal has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which two Fire Boss planes are expected to arrive on Monday to bolster efforts against the fires.
Provisional official data indicates that by August 17, 172,000 hectares had burned throughout the country, exceeding the total area burned in the entire year of 2024.
