As reported by the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection, at 4:00 p.m. six fires deemed “significant occurrences” were of utmost concern on the mainland: three ongoing fires in Moimenta da Beira, Vila Verde, and Ponte da Barca, alongside three others being resolved in Arouca, Carregal do Sal, and Penafiel.
In Moimenta da Beira, located in the Viseu district, an alert for a fire in the parish of Paradinha and Nagosa was issued today at 1:43 p.m. At that hour, the fire was being tackled by 118 personnel, supported by 18 vehicles and three aerial means.
In Gomide, Vila Verde, within the Braga district, a brush fire was recorded at 5:35 a.m. today, being combated by 101 personnel, aided by 31 vehicles and three aerial means.
Another active fire ignited on Saturday in Lindoso, Ponte da Barca (Viana do Castelo), within the Peneda-Gerês National Park, which involved a total of 677 personnel, assisted by 223 vehicles and 11 aerial means.
By late morning, this fire was deemed “stabilized” by Civil Protection, allowing around 60 people, evacuated for safety reasons on Thursday night from their homes in the villages of Sobredo and Paradela, to return.
This fire has resulted in 20 minor injuries so far, including one civilian, according to Civil Protection, and spread to the neighboring municipality of Terras de Bouro in the Braga district.
The fire that broke out on Monday in Canelas and Espiunca, in Arouca, Aveiro district, which has since spread to Castelo de Paiva municipality, was being fought by 438 personnel, aided by 156 vehicles and one aerial unit.
In Carregal do Sal (Viseu district), a brush fire reported at 2:54 p.m. occupied 50 security and rescue forces members and 15 vehicles, while another fire burning since Tuesday in the Penafiel municipality, Porto district, involved 197 personnel and 60 vehicles.
Numerous rural fires have affected continental Portugal since Monday, especially in the northern, central, and Alentejo regions. The blazes necessitated the evacuation of villages.
Several individuals, including firefighters and civilians, received medical attention, with no reports of serious injuries. While no homes were reported destroyed, forest areas, agricultural lands, livestock, and related structures have burned.
Secretary of State for Internal Administration Paulo Simões Ribeiro stated today that firefighting resources are adequate, although they cannot be everywhere simultaneously due to the high number of fires.
Much of the interior central districts, including Bragança, Guarda, and Castelo Branco, are at maximum rural fire risk today, according to the Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA).
This forecast also extends to the southern part of the country, affecting six municipalities in the Faro district: Portimão, Silves, Monchique, Loulé, São Brás de Alportel, and Tavira.
According to the IPMA, the maximum rural fire risk situation is expected to continue in the same regions over the coming days.
The IPMA has placed all districts of mainland Portugal, except Faro, under an orange warning between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, due to the “persistence of very high maximum temperature values”.
