More than 1,600 personnel are actively engaged in combating seven “significant” fires currently raging in Portugal on Thursday morning. Three major fires are demanding the most attention: Arouca with 620 firefighters, Ponte da Barca with 424, and Penafiel with 173.
The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection reported at 9:00 am that the fire in Cinfães is also considered “significant,” despite having fewer personnel involved (67).
The fires have intensified over the past week, forcing residents from several areas to evacuate due to danger. However, on Thursday morning, 150 residents from four villages in Ponte da Barca are already returning home after the fire, which began on Saturday, started to subside. The fire had spread to the neighboring municipality of Terras de Bouro, in Braga.
According to the Civil Protection’s website, the notable fires in Nisa, Paredes, and another one in Cinfães, in the Nespereira area, are now under control, with over 300 personnel having been deployed.
The ‘Inspiring’ Greater Concern
At around 7:00 am, the fire in Ponte da Barca continued with four active fronts, one of which had “greater activity,” according to Commander Rui Costa as reported by Lusa. Aerial support was expected, but two hours later, the Civil Protection website indicated no aircraft had been deployed.
In Ponte da Barca, the last update to Lusa, shortly after midnight, highlighted “great concern” about the wind and challenging access for vehicles.
This morning, the fire caused the closure of National Road 108. By 7:15 am, this road was closed to traffic in both directions in the locality of Melres, in the municipality of Gondomar and district of Porto.
Nearly all municipalities in Bragança, Vila Real, Guarda, Viseu, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, and Faro are at maximum risk of rural fires today, according to data from the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
