“It seems the worst may be over. There are many hotspots, especially in the areas of Dominguizo, Vales do Rio, and Unhais da Serra. There was a chaotic period between 5:00 PM and 7:30 PM,” said the president of the municipality of Covilhã at 9:15 PM.
Vitor Pereira, present at the firefront, praised the firefighters’ efforts in defending the locality of Vale de Cerdeira, in the parish of São Jorge da Beira.
“They defended the locality without the need to evacuate people. A great job by the firefighters, and I also highlight the courage and dedication with which the locals defend their villages and belongings,” he said.
When asked about the resources on the ground, the mayor stated that there are two distinct plans: One involving highly skilled professionals, including firefighters and Civil Protection officers, and another for those who manage, organize, coordinate, and create synergies to robustly confront these tragedies.
This fire, which began on Wednesday in Arganil, in the Coimbra district, has already affected three municipalities in the Castelo Branco district (Castelo Branco, Fundão, and Covilhã).
Continental Portugal has been plagued by numerous rural fires since July, especially in the North and Center regions.
The fires have resulted in three fatalities, including a firefighter, and many injuries, some severe, while destroying fully or partially primary and secondary homes, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forest areas.
According to provisional data, over 222,000 hectares have burned by August 20, surpassing the total area burned for the entire year of 2024.
