The National Commander of Emergency and Civil Protection, Mário Silvestre, provided a summary of the current situation regarding wildfires as of 5 p.m. According to the latest data, the Algarve region alone recorded seven incidents today, adding to the five incidents that occurred on Sunday. Until recently, this region had experienced almost no wildfires.
Silvestre reported that as of 5 p.m., there were five particularly concerning fires in Piódão, Sabugal, Tarouca, Mirandela, and Montalegre (Vilar de Perdizes), the latter of which started in Spain.
Currently, 55 incidents are in the mop-up phase, involving 2,085 personnel, 675 vehicles, and 15 aircraft, according to Silvestre.
He confirmed that no serious injuries were reported throughout the day.
Addressing concerns about the lack of resources, Silvestre explained that given the intensity of the fires, when control lines are lost, the objective is to safeguard populations and property. He acknowledged that in some cases, the arrival of resources may have been delayed due to unexpected developments. He clarified that the absence of firefighters within urban areas doesn’t mean they are not protecting those areas, as they may be focusing on more critical locations.
Silvestre mentioned that two Fire Boss planes, granted to Portugal through the European Civil Protection Mechanism, have arrived and will begin operations on Tuesday, expected to remain for four days.
The state of special readiness has been extended until Wednesday, with usual measures such as pre-positioning of additional resources, aircraft patrols, and enhanced emergency communication. An alert status is also in place until Tuesday, which includes prohibitions like restricting access to forest areas.
The district emergency and civil protection plans for Viseu, Coimbra, and Guarda, along with 12 additional municipal plans, are currently active.
Residents in the Arganil fire zone, especially near Pampilhosa da Serra, Fundão, and Covilhã, are cautioned that “the fire remains active with significant intensity, and people are advised to take all necessary precautions, including closing doors and windows, staying in central urban areas,” and to follow authorities’ instructions.
[Updated at 8:38 p.m.]
