The ongoing wildfire that began in Capela has spread to Melres, with officials reporting at 3:00 PM that there are three active fronts: one in Penafiel and two in Gondomar.
Firefighter Joel Castro noted that the fire has already consumed a “considerable area” of brush, with resources being repositioned to address the advancing flames threatening the villages of Vilarinho and Moreira.
At the time of the report, there were 215 firefighters and 65 vehicles battling the blaze.
Earlier in the day, authorities advised the residents of Moreira to evacuate.
When questioned about the evacuation, the commander stated it was a precautionary measure but did not disclose if residents complied or how many were evacuated.
Meanwhile, Gondomar’s mayor, Luís Filipe Araújo, announced that aerial resources would shortly arrive in Melres, emphasizing their importance as ground crews are already “under strain.”
The fire, which began in Capela, Penafiel, was first reported at 9:26 AM on Tuesday.
Nearly all municipalities in Bragança, Vila Real, Guarda, Viseu, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, and Faro are facing extreme rural fire risk today, according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
