A fire engulfed a construction materials warehouse on Sunday, affecting part of the Montael company’s offices in Antanhol, according to the Coimbra City Council on social media, which advised local residents to keep windows and doors closed.
The blaze also led to the temporary closure of the IC2 in both directions and the precautionary evacuation of several vehicles from the vicinity.
Firefighters at the scene confirmed to reporters that the fire had entered a resolution phase, though the warehouse was completely destroyed.
“It was a store selling construction materials,” noted Carlos Carecho of the Coimbra Municipal Firefighters. “Upon arrival, the building was already fully consumed, making direct attack and penetration impossible.”
“The situation is completely under control. There are no victims, although one firefighter was treated for fatigue,” the commander added.
The alert was raised at 13:10, and by 16:20, there were 96 personnel supported by 34 vehicles on site.
On Facebook, the city council detailed that “the Municipal Civil Protection Service and the Coimbra Municipal Firefighters, with support from other entities, are monitoring the incident on location.”
Carlos Lopes, Coimbra City Councilor responsible for Civil Protection, stated the flames completely destroyed the Montael construction materials warehouse, which contained “highly flammable materials such as adhesives and PVC.”
“We managed to save part of the offices, maintenance vehicles, and forklifts,” he added.
He informed the press that at the time of the fire, no one was inside the warehouse or the company’s offices, which have been operating for about 25 years.
“The fire is under control, necessitating the activation of an aerial support and the closure of IC2 in both directions for about an hour and a half. Two or three firefighters were affected by the extreme heat, but nothing serious,” he indicated.
Images shared on social media show a massive smoke column, underscoring the fire’s significant scale.
Montael was founded in 1974, as noted on its website, and was acquired by a new economic group on April 1, 2022. The company operates in construction, decoration, DIY, and gardening, focusing on heating materials, bathrooms, kitchens, flooring and coverings, electricity, paint, lighting, and tools.
