The municipality announced that it unanimously approved a measure to reimburse the total amount of water, sanitation, and urban solid waste bills during the relevant period for all consumers in 19 villages within the parishes of Fajão-Vidual, Unhais-o-Velho, Janeiro de Baixo, and Dornelas do Zêzere.
The decision impacts the communities of Adurão, Aradas, Camba, Carregal, Covanca, Dornelas do Zêzere, Esteiro, Machial, Machialinho, Meãs, Pisão, Portas do Souto, Portela de Unhais, Porto da Balsa, Porto de Vacas, Póvoa da Raposeira, Selada da Porta, Seladinhas, and Unhais-o-Velho.
Jorge Custódio, the Mayor, expressed that it is “a matter of basic justice to support those who dropped everything to fight the fire and protect their homes and villages.”
“Our people rolled up their sleeves and were true warriors, and this decision aims to alleviate the financial burden linked to such outstanding efforts,” he added.
The municipality explained that residents eligible for this reimbursement must submit their water bills to the City Council or Parish Councils, followed by validation of the requests.
Subsequently, the City Council will ensure that APIN — Empresa Intermunicipal de Ambiente do Pinhal Interior, the water and sanitation concessionaire, will immediately clear the covered bills.
The costs of these bills will be “borne by the municipality as compensation.”
“This support recognizes the courage and solidarity shown by many residents who used their resources, including public water supply, to protect homes, heritage, and forests, also aiding in fighting the flames,” noted Pampilhosa da Serra municipality.
It added that the measure resulted from a coordinated decision with the municipalities of Góis and Lousã, “who, together, faced the same tragedy and acknowledged the need to ease the financial strain on the population during this particularly demanding situation.”
The forest fire that started on the early morning of the 13th in the parish of Piódão in Arganil burned for 11 days, consuming 64,000 hectares, the largest area ever recorded.
The flames spread to Pampilhosa da Serra and Oliveira do Hospital (Coimbra district), Seia (Guarda), and Castelo Branco, Covilhã, and Fundão (Castelo Branco district).
