“Currently, there are no homes at risk and no population centers or villages near the three fronts we have identified in the fire,” confirmed Miguel Fonseca to journalists shortly after midnight.
“We are witnessing a favorable progression; these are not linear fronts but multiple points distributed across various sectors. Hence, we refer to three fronts burning with medium intensity, but all are starting to yield to our efforts,” he explained.
He added that “in the coming hours, thanks to the help of the night,” firefighters might “bring the situation under control.”
The number of operational teams and vehicles on site has also decreased.
“The aim is to maintain the personnel and relieve the teams on the ground, which consist of approximately 250 operatives supported by 75 land vehicles,” specified the Civil Protection official.
Earlier this evening, around 370 personnel were deployed, supported by about 115 vehicles, including firefighters, GNR, Special Fireforce, Red Cross, and INEM. Eight aircraft were operational during the afternoon.
The mayor of Sabrosa mentioned on Wednesday night that, due to the fire, residents of the small villages of Delegada and Vale das Gatas would be evacuated as a precaution to a multi-purpose pavilion, but this was not necessary.
There are approximately 50 to 60 residents, primarily elderly, in those areas, according to Helena Lapa.
Around midnight, the difficulty, according to Miguel Fonseca, lay in accessing areas where the fire persisted.
The fire began at 1:30 p.m. in Feitais, later descending to Souto Maior, burning scrubland and pine forest, and by 8:00 p.m. had seven active fronts in four different areas.
