In comments to Lusa, Paulo Fernandes highlighted the risk of missing an opportunity to mitigate the situation in the municipality, specifically at previously defined points for the deployment of aerial resources.
“The intervention priorities for the aerial resources have been set since 8:00 AM. It is now 10:30 AM, and no aerial resources are operating. If nothing is done, the same situation as yesterday [Wednesday] will occur,” he argued.
“I hope that the second time is the charm, and we realize that we either mitigate the fire situation or face a chaotic late afternoon like yesterday [Wednesday], especially in Alpedrinha, Alcongosta, and Souto da Casa,” he stated.
This fire, which broke out on the 13th in Arganil, Coimbra district, has also spread to the municipalities of Pampilhosa da Serra and Oliveira do Hospital (Coimbra district), Seia (Guarda), and Covilhã and Castelo Branco (Castelo Branco).
Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Central regions.
The fires have caused three fatalities, including a firefighter, and several injuries, some serious, and have destroyed or partially damaged primary and secondary residences, as well as agricultural, livestock, and forest areas.
According to the latest provisional report from the Forest Fire Management System (SGIF), updated on Wednesday, the Arganil fire has already consumed 53,224 hectares.
