A man has been arrested in Viseu on suspicion of setting several fires in the region between July and August.
The Polícia Judiciária announced that with the Directorate of the Centre, in collaboration with the Central Coastal Rural Space Ignition Reduction Working Group (ICNF, GNR, and PJ) and the GNR’s Viseu Environmental Protection Unit, they managed to identify and arrest the 46-year-old man for allegedly committing six forest fire crimes in July and August of this year in the Viseu area.
According to the police, the suspect used direct flames to ignite fires near forest paths in densely wooded areas adjacent to urban zones. The fires did not escalate into more severe uncontrollable situations due to the swift action of the Viseu Volunteer Firefighters.
During those days, weather conditions were extremely high risk and maximal, conducive to causing large-scale fires.
The suspect will appear before the Viseu Judicial Court for the first judicial interrogation for the imposition of preventive measures.
Summer Fires
Mainland Portugal was affected by several large rural fires in July and August, especially in the North and Central regions.
The fires resulted in four deaths, including one firefighter, and several injuries, some severe, and destroyed homes, both primary and secondary, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forest areas.
According to the Integrated Rural Fire Management System (SGIFR), the year 2025 has been the third worst ever in terms of burned area up to August 31.
In Viseu, the fire in Sernancelhe was one of the most severe. It originated from two fires – one that broke out on the 13th in Sátão (Viseu district) and another on the 9th in Trancoso (Guarda district), which on the 15th merged into one, affecting a total of 11 municipalities in the two districts.
Sátão, Sernancelhe, Moimenta da Beira, Penedono, and São João da Pesqueira (Viseu district); and Aguiar da Beira, Trancoso, Fornos de Algodres, Mêda, Celorico da Beira, and Vila Nova de Foz Côa (Guarda district) were the affected areas.
This fire reached resolution by 10 p.m. on the 17th.
