The fire in Mirandela is raging through scrubland, threatening several homes. The village of Santa Comba da Vilariça now has flames approaching from the north, bridge, and spring, stated Fernando Brás.
The fire began at 5 PM, and by 9:30 PM, “the fight is being carried out by locals,” said the official. “We mobilized everyone, and yet it feels insufficient for this task,” lamented the president of the parish council, expressing frustration over the lack of professional response to save the village.
The wind has been a significant adversary, blowing towards the houses and adding to the “considerable agricultural damages,” which the official currently finds hard to estimate. “Our priority is to save people,” declared Fernando Brás.
Nuno Bento, a resident, is distraught. “The fire is already reaching the warehouses,” he told Lusa. Throughout the afternoon, he only saw the GNR blocking the road and a single aerial operation that made “four drops.” Regarding firefighters, “none, zero,” emphasized the resident of Santa Comba da Vilariça, reiterating that the battle against the flames is conducted by locals using “tractors with tanks, irrigation, and plowing.”
The fire is now advancing towards Vale Frechoso, another village in Vila Flor, near Santa Comba da Vilariça.
In Vilares da Vilariça, Alfândega da Fé, the situation has calmed. Residents were initially confined to the church as a precaution since this locality is also surrounded by flames. Nevertheless, some refused to leave their homes.
This fire has been burning since Sunday, starting at 2 PM, and originated in the localities of Frechas and Valverde da Gestosa. It has since reached the municipality of Vila Flor, crossing the IP2 and necessitating the road’s closure.
