President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has expressed “deep condolences” following the death of the former mayor of the Vila Franca do Deão parish in the municipality of Guarda, who lost his life on Friday while battling a fire.
In a statement published on the Presidential website, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, “who interrupted his vacation and returned yesterday to the Palace of Belém,” offered “heartfelt condolences to the Mayor of Guarda for the passing of former mayor Carlos Dâmaso, a victim of a fire he was fighting in his parish.”
The President also requested that condolences be extended to the family of the former mayor.
The statement indicated that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will remain at the Palace of Belém “in the coming days” to “monitor the serious situation of rural fires.”
Earlier today, the President participated in a meeting of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) in Carnaxide with Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. However, both left the meeting without making statements.
Former mayor is first mortal victim of forest fires
Carlos Dâmaso, the former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, is the first fatality of the forest fires ravaging the country.
Sérgio Costa, the Mayor of Guarda, confirmed to Lusa that the former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, Carlos Dâmaso, died while fighting the flames, and his body was found today.
Carlos Dâmaso was a candidate again for the presidency of the Vila Franca do Deão parish in the municipal elections in October as part of the Independent Movement.
Carlos Dâmaso died following the battle against the flames, with his body being found this Friday.
Lusa | 15:04 – 15/08/2025
Portugal has been on alert due to fires since August 2, and on Friday, the national commander of Civil Protection, Mário Silvestre, announced the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism requesting support for four Canadair airplanes.
Mário Silvestre explained the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism due to the weather conditions that did not provide a window of opportunity at night to control some of the fires, contrary to what authorities had anticipated.
The European Commission has indicated that it is “mobilizing the support” that Portugal requested to help combat forest fires in the country. “Yes, Portugal has activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, we are mobilizing the support the country requested,” stated European Commission spokesperson Eva Hrncirova to Lusa.
