The mayor of Góis, Rui Sampaio, stated, “We are here in the area of Aigra Nova, there’s a valley here, and [the fire] is quite intense, climbing towards Aigra Velha.”
According to the mayor, as of 09:34, resources were concentrated at this location in an attempt to “control the fire’s ascent and prevent it from reaching the mountain top, which could lead to serious situations.”
“We are making an effort with resources, not only from the Góis firefighters but also from other cooperating units, AFOCELCA, and private machinery. As soon as aerial means are possible, we will attempt to contain it because if it moves to the other side, it would be a severe problem,” commented Rui Sampaio.
When asked about the resources on the ground, the mayor responded that although he is not a firefighter, they are attempting with available resources, despite limitations, to gather enough to meet the evident need.
The mayor admitted that the situation observed this morning in the Góis municipality, Coimbra district, is “complex,” yet no villages are in danger.
He recalled that during the night and early morning, the villages of Aigra Nova and Comareira were closely approached by the fire, but it was contained without any damage to homes.
Near Ponte de Sótão, at the boundary of the Góis and Lousã municipalities, on Friday, the fire showed intensity. However, through robust aerial and ground interventions and machinery, it was contained and did not progress to nearby villages, Conhais and Sacões.
“At this moment, I have no reports of any damage to residences,” Sampaio mentioned, acknowledging that while there are no home damages, individuals are impacted as Góis has a dense forest area.
He mentioned it’s “natural for property owners, who derive income from these lands, to have had their properties devastated by the fire, […] but this has not been quantified yet.”
As of 10:15, according to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection’s website, the fire in Serra da Lousã was being fought by 361 personnel, supported by 114 vehicles and one aircraft.
