Pedro is one of the faces marked by the tragedy of the wildfires that have ravaged the country, especially in the North and Central regions. The man from Oliveira do Hospital lost everything, but managed to save his animals.
The story is recounted by the Animal Rescue and Intervention organization (IRA) through their social media: “Miracle is all we can say. The flames completely destroyed Mr. Pedro’s house,” reads the post.
It continues: “Washed in tears, he had nothing left but his animals that survived because they were set free.”
However, a specific moment is highlighted, describing it as “the true miracle.”
Pedro’s dog managed to escape the fire with her “puppies.” “The mother grabbed her young and took refuge in a hole leading to a mine.”
“Everything around burned, the entrance burned, but all the animals were saved. They stayed inside the mine until our teams arrived, until they were rescued from within,” the post mentions, adding “this is, as of now, the miracle of the moment.”
The IRA also shared that “Pedro lost all his material goods, but saved all his animals by keeping them free.”
“And this gesture of his will, probably, be what blesses him soon,” it concludes.
It’s also worth noting that after Pedro lost everything, the IRA informed via their social media that they would “activate their emergency fund” to buy a pre-fabricated house, also providing an IBAN for those who wanted to help.
“Pedro was left with only the clothes on his back, a handful of burned memories, and the animals he loves more than anything. They escaped the flames, but they cannot escape the need: they need a roof, security, and a place to start over,” wrote the organization on Facebook.
This Sunday, the IRA announced that people could stop donating because “Pedro will have a house.”
“The IRA and all who support us will offer a modular house and a shelter for the animals to Pedro,” shared the organization.
It should be recalled that the forest fire broke out in the parish of Piódão at midnight on Wednesday, allegedly caused by a lightning strike from dry thunderstorms in the area. It then spread to the municipalities of Oliveira do Hospital and Seia, in the district of Guarda, among other regions.
Fire in Oliveira do Hospital Now Under Control
The forest fire affecting the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital, in the district of Coimbra, is “completely under control” and mopping-up operations are underway, a source from the local government said on Sunday.
“The active fronts that were of greater concern and were alarming during the night, in the area of São Sebastião da Feira, parish of Penalva de Alva, and Vilela, parish of Nogueira do Cravo, have been extinguished,” the source said.
The source also admitted that there is “a lot of work ahead in surveillance and mopping-up” of this fire, which started on Wednesday in the municipality of Arganil, in the same district, and moved to Oliveira do Hospital.
The forest fire affecting the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital, in the district of Coimbra, is “completely under control” and mopping-up operations are underway, a local government source said today.
Lusa | 11:46 – 16/08/2025
