The government’s support for areas affected by this summer’s wildfires will cover damages incurred between July 26 and August 27 in 313 parishes across 73 municipalities in mainland Portugal.
A resolution by the Council of Ministers, approved on Thursday and published in the Official Gazette, stated that “all parishes with burned areas due to large wildfires, from midnight on July 26, 2025, to 11:59 PM on August 27, 2025,” have been taken into account.
Additionally, there is provision for the possible inclusion of other parishes affected by smaller fires in future Council resolutions, based on their severity, as stated in the document.
Which parishes are eligible?
The support will be applicable to 313 parishes in 73 municipalities from the North, Center, Alentejo, and Lisbon and Vale do Tejo regions. The criteria are established by decree-law 98-A/2025, dated August 24.
In the North, 151 parishes or parish unions are included from the municipalities of Arouca and Castelo de Paiva (Aveiro district), Celorico de Basto, Fafe and Terras de Bouro (Braga), Alfândega da Fé, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Mirandela, Mogadouro, Torre de Moncorvo, Vila Flor and Vinhais (Bragança), Amarante, Gondomar, Paredes and Penafiel (Porto), Arcos de Valdevez, Monção, Ponte da Barca and Ponte de Lima (Viana do Castelo), Chaves, Mondim de Basto, Montalegre, Ribeira de Pena, Sabrosa, Vila Pouca de Aguiar and Vila Real (Vila Real), and Cinfães, Moimenta da Beira, Penedono, São João da Pesqueira, Sernancelhe, Tabuaço and Tarouca (Viseu).
In the Center, 150 parishes or parish unions are from Castelo Branco, Covilhã, Fundão, Idanha-a-Nova and Penamacor (Castelo Branco district), Arganil, Góis, Lousã, Oliveira do Hospital, Pampilhosa da Serra and Tábua (Coimbra), Aguiar da Beira, Almeida, Celorico da Beira, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, Fornos de Algodres, Guarda, Mêda, Pinhel, Sabugal, Seia and Trancoso (Guarda), Pedrógão Grande (Leiria), and Castro Daire, Mangualde, Sátão and Vila Nova de Paiva (Viseu).
In Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, Alcanede parish in Santarém municipality and district is involved.
In Alentejo, 11 parishes or parish unions from Cuba, Ferreira do Alentejo and Vidigueira (Beja district), Avis, Castelo de Vide, Nisa and Portalegre (Portalegre), and Grândola and Santiago do Cacém (Setúbal district) are covered.
What is the financial aid for and how much is it?
The aid aims to cover “reconstruction of homes, resumption of economic activities, assistance to farmers, repair of infrastructure and equipment, ecosystem and biodiversity recovery, reforestation and forest recovery, and environmental impact containment, among others.”
Support is offered to farmers for essential goods, including food and non-delayed items. Aid up to 10,000 euros can be given even without documentation, pending inspections by municipal and Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR) officers for damages related to livestock, annual crops, perennial plantations, machinery, equipment, and agricultural support facilities.
Funding is allocated for social equipment, infrastructure, and legally certifiable urban housing up to 250,000 euros. Moreover, support lines and systems for businesses and tourism regeneration, as well as replacement or repair of forestry machinery and equipment, warehouses, and other constructions, will be created. This includes hunting zone managers, protected area co-management commissions, and commons management entities.
Who decides on the damages?
The assessment and evaluation of damages rest with local authorities, who report findings to the respective CCDR. Cost estimates arise from joint inspections by municipal and CCDR technicians.
Expenditures from the exceptional authorization cannot exceed five million euros per ministry.
The rural fires affecting mainland Portugal since July, particularly in the North and Center regions, resulted in four fatalities, including a firefighter, and multiple injuries, some severe. Residential homes and agricultural and livestock operations and forest areas were partially or fully destroyed.
According to official provisional data, by August 23, approximately 250,000 hectares burned nationwide, including over 57,000 in a fire that began in Arganil.
