Due to the rapid progression of the fires currently active in the parishes of Alvarenga and Canelas/Espiunca, as well as the persistence of extreme temperatures expected until July 30, the Mayor of Arouca, Margarida Belém, decided to activate the Municipal Emergency and Civil Protection Plan at 4:40 AM today, July 29, according to a note published on the municipality’s Facebook page.
The decision was made after consultation with the municipal civil protection coordinator of Arouca and the local chiefs of the firefighters and the GNR.
Following this decision, the Municipal Operational Coordination Center will be activated to operate continuously at the Parish Council of Canelas and Espiunca, allowing for the centralization and processing of relevant operational information for the plan’s management.
Municipal services and all municipal workers are also fully mobilized for all actions related to Civil Protection, under the coordination of this Center.
As of 10:00 AM, the website of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority indicated that only the fire affecting the parish of Canelas/Espiunca remained active.
This fire, burning in an area of brush, involved 590 operatives, 186 vehicles, and three aerial resources.
