“The situation is calm, quieter than in recent days. There are only a few flare-ups at two points in the municipality and on the other side of the Côa River, already in the municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo,” said António José Machado, mayor of Almeida.
The flare-ups are occurring near Quinta da Barca, on National Road (EN) 340, in the Valverde area, both in the municipality of Almeida, and in Cinco Vilas, in the municipality of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, in the district of Guarda.
“The latter broke out on the cliffs of the Côa, difficult to access, where foot combat is being undertaken to prevent the spread of the flames.”
António José Machado added that the operatives are only carrying out consolidation and monitoring work in the burned area.
The mayor of Almeida estimates that the fire may enter the resolution phase in the coming hours.
As of 17:30, there were 212 operatives and 71 vehicles on the ground, according to the website of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC).
This fire started at 14:58 in the locality of Cinco Vilas, in Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo, on Wednesday, and advanced along the banks of the Côa River to the municipalities of Almeida and Pinhel.
A firefighter from the Pinhel brigade was seriously injured when the tanker he was driving was hit by flames in Valverde, in the municipality of Almeida.
The 45-year-old volunteer suffered severe burns and was transported by helicopter from the National Institute of Medical Emergency to the Coimbra Hospitals.
Continental Portugal has been affected by multiple large-scale rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Center regions.
The fires caused three deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries, some serious, and completely or partially destroyed primary and secondary residences, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forest areas.
Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which it has two Fire Boss aircraft and a Super Puma helicopter, with an additional two Canadair planes expected to arrive later today.
According to provisional official data, up to August 21, 234,000 hectares have burned in the country, more than 53,000 of which in the fire that started in Arganil.
