A fire that has been burning since this afternoon in Oliveira do Hospital, in the district of Coimbra, forced more than two dozen people to evacuate their homes, according to the mayor.
Francisco Rolo stated that the fire started in Póvoa de São Cosme, in the Union of Parishes of Ervedal and Vila Franca da Beira, near the slope of the Mondego River, which divides the districts of Coimbra and Viseu, in an area of farms inhabited by foreign nationals.
“As a precaution, between two to three dozen people were evacuated because the fire advanced north, putting their homes at risk,” the mayor said, although no homes have been affected.
The evacuees were relocated to a shelter area in Seixo da Beira.
The flames broke out at 1:25 PM in a scrubland area in the Union of Parishes of Ervedal and Vila Franca da Beira and moved toward the parish of Seixo da Beira, continuing to consume scrub in an area of grazing and Serra da Estrela cheese production.
Reinforcements have been sent throughout the afternoon, and by 5:50 PM, the fire was being fought by 377 personnel, supported by 107 vehicles and eight aerial units.
On the ground, there are also three tracked machines deployed by the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital, creating buffer zones to aid the firefighting effort.
“Our aim is to control the fire before nightfall and prevent it from reaching urban settlements,” emphasized the mayor, Francisco Rolo.
