In a press conference concluding at around 8:10 PM, the Mayor of Aljustrel, Carlos Teles, indicated that a fire broke out in the parish of Messejana and reached “large proportions,” though it remains “confined to the municipality of Aljustrel.”
The mayor noted that the fire has consumed “about 1,000 hectares” and remains active on two fronts: “an area of eucalyptus trees, which is more concerning, and another of pasture,” both close to the village of Carregueiro.
This situation resulted in the closure of traffic on National Road (EN) 2, in the section between Aljustrel and Castro Verde, and Municipal Road (EM) 394, between the towns of Carregueiro and Entradas, in the municipality of Castro Verde.
“We will not reopen these roads yet, especially EN2, because that area gives us the most work,” stated Carlos Pica, sub-regional commander of Baixo Alentejo for the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), also present at the press conference.
According to Pica, it is expected that the fire might be under control “at nightfall or the beginning of the morning,” although the weather conditions are “not very helpful.”
“However, our intention is to have the fire under control as soon as possible tonight or early morning,” he emphasized.
The fire in the Aljustrel municipality forced the GNR to evacuate people from three homes in two hamlets near Carregueiro and caused material damage to an agricultural support warehouse.
Seven firefighters involved in combating the flames suffered from exhaustion and smoke inhalation; two were transported to Beja Hospital and another to the Basic Emergency Service of Castro Verde.
The fire, which was reported at 1:09 PM, broke out in a forested area at Monte do Cerro in the Messejana region, Aljustrel municipality, and mobilized six helicopters.
As of 8:40 PM, according to ANEPC’s website, the fire involved 259 personnel, supported by 92 vehicles and four aerial units.
In addition to firefighters from various local stations, the fire-fighting efforts received support from multiple entities, including the Red Cross, National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), municipal civil protection services of Aljustrel and Castro Verde, parish councils, GNR, Afocelca, forestry agents from Ourique, and the special civil protection force.
