A Central Alentejo Emergency and Civil Protection Sub-Regional Command reported that 307 personnel, supported by 108 vehicles, were still battling the fire.
The Deputy Operations Officer of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), Bruno Borges, mentioned around 7:00 PM that efforts were being intensified to reinforce resources overnight to support firefighting operations.
Bruno Borges noted that the ANEPC has already begun assessing the damage caused by the fire.
In statements, João Grilo, Mayor of Alandroal, stated that in Terena, firefighters managed to hold back the fire behind one of the streets.
The mayor highlighted that the fire had mostly burned brush and had approached isolated homes.
“No homes have burned, only some annexes. So far, there has been nothing severe involving people,” he emphasized, acknowledging that “a lot of area has been burned,” and firefighting remains “very complex due to the wind.”
During the afternoon, the mayor explained, it was necessary to evacuate a factory near Alandroal, but firefighters succeeded in preventing the fire from reaching the factory area.
The fire, primarily affecting brush areas, was reported at 9:22 AM.
The GNR disclosed that the truck driver suspected of causing the fire had been identified and charged by authorities.
According to the Territorial Command of Évora’s GNR, the man, driving a freight truck transporting wood, was charged with forest fire arson, and the case was referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The source explained that a metal piece from one of the truck’s trailer straps used for securing the load became loose, struck the ground, and produced sparks, igniting several fires in the area.
This morning, the Mayor of Alandroal stated that the fire originated from a truck tire that had caught fire, sparking fires along National Road 255 (EN255), which connects Alandroal to Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Due to the fire, road traffic was halted on some routes, remaining interrupted on the stretch of EN255 between Alandroal and Santiago Maior, but was restored on the section of National Road 373 (EN373) between the municipality seat and Juromenha, as reported by the GNR at 10:00 PM.
