A fire that broke out on Monday in the municipality of Arouca, in the Aveiro district, and has spread to the Castelo de Paiva municipality, is being tackled by 780 operatives, 267 vehicles, and seven aerial units, according to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC).
This blaze is currently the largest among the ongoing rural fires categorized as “significant occurrences” due to either their duration or the number of resources deployed to them by Civil Protection.
Another fire that began on Saturday in Ponte da Barca, within the Viana do Castelo district and the Peneda-Gerês National Park, and has now spread to the neighboring Terras de Bouro in Braga district, is currently being fought by 391 operatives, 126 vehicles, and six aerial units.
The fire that ignited on Tuesday in Penafiel, Porto district, involves 159 operatives with 43 vehicles and two aerial units.
At 10:00 AM today, a fire erupted in Pinhanços, Seia municipality, in the Guarda district, with firefighting efforts involving 180 operatives, 54 vehicles, and three aerial units.
A fire in Ponte de Lima, Viana do Castelo district, started late Monday evening and is currently being managed by 167 operatives and 52 vehicles, with no aerial support.
In Cinfães, Viseu district, the fire that began at 6:10 AM on Tuesday is being fought by 67 operatives, supported by 18 vehicles and one aerial unit.
At 9:50 AM today, a fire broke out in Paredes, Porto district, with 75 operatives and 18 vehicles engaged, without aerial support.
Other significant occurrences listed by Civil Protection include fires in Nisa, Santarém, and Sever do Vouga, which, despite now being in resolution, continue to involve 640 security and emergency personnel.
As of 12:30, the National Republican Guard (GNR) reported road closures on the A41 highway in Porto and on National Roads 225 (Aveiro district) and 18 (districts of Castelo Branco and Portalegre).
In various localities across the North, Center, and Alentejo regions, evacuations have occurred as a precaution, with local authorities calling for more operational resources. Some firefighters suffered minor injuries during the operations, and residents received assistance.
The Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Rui Rocha, stated today that the government is ensuring the availability of 76 aerial units, emphasizing that their contribution to extinguishing fires depends on the specific characteristics of each blaze.
Significant parts of the northern interior and central regions of the country face a critical wildfire risk today, according to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
This forecast primarily concerns municipalities within the districts of Bragança, Vila Real, Viseu, Guarda, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, and Santarém.
According to the IPMA, this critical risk of wildfires will persist in the coming days in the same regions, with conditions worsening in some Algarve municipalities.
