At 11:05, an official from Oliveira do Hospital reported that the fire in the area was “completely contained.”
“The active fronts that were of concern, especially overnight, in the São Sebastião da Feira area, Penalva de Alva parish, and Vilela, Nogueira do Cravo parish, have been extinguished,” the source stated.
The municipality is now focused on “prevention of reignition and mop-up operations” – the teams in the field are to “remain vigilant as it’s a vast area with difficult access.”
The official acknowledged there is “a lot of work ahead in vigilance and mop-up” following this fire, which began on Wednesday in Arganil’s region, and spread to Oliveira do Hospital.
During the night, the flames destroyed brush and forest areas and “came close to the city before being controlled,” the municipality added, noting that night humidity and reduced wind assisted in firefighting efforts.
The forest fire ignited at Piódão parish at 5:00 AM on Wednesday, allegedly due to a lightning strike from dry thunderstorms that affected the area. It subsequently spread to the municipalities of Oliveira do Hospital and Seia, located in the Guarda district, among others.
On Friday, the fire led to the evacuation of some tourist accommodations in the municipality, as well as reservation cancellations, particularly at Ponte das Três Entradas, where a four-star hotel “was full,” along with another property in Vila Pouca da Beira, where flames passed without causing damage.
A Lusa report observed the destruction wrought by the fire across rural and forest lands along a five-kilometer stretch of road by the river between Vila Cova de Alva (Arganil) and Avô (Oliveira do Hospital).
As of 12:10 today, reports showed the Arganil fire being tackled by 1,009 personnel, supported by 335 vehicles and 11 aerial units, on the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC) website.
The special readiness level of the Rural Firefighting Device (DECIR) has been maintained at the highest level of four since August 11, with emergency plans activated for the districts of Viseu and Coimbra, and municipal plans for Trancoso, Oliveira do Hospital, Arganil, Aguiar da Beira, Sátão, Sernancelhe, Seia, Pampilhosa da Serra, Tábua, and Góis.
ANEPC, under the current alert status, emphasized the ban on accessing and circulating in forest areas, conducting burns, and suspending any previously issued permits for work in forest spaces using machinery, activities in other rural areas, as well as the use of fireworks or other pyrotechnic devices.
[Updated at 1:30 PM]
