A wildfire front advancing in the Alvoco da Serra area, in the Seia municipality (Guarda district), has moved into the Covilhã municipality (Castelo Branco district). It is progressing “from the Torre [of Serra da Estrela] towards the Penhas da Saúde and Unhais da Serra areas,” the Covilhã Municipality stated in a Facebook post.
The fire front at Taliscas, headed towards the Dominguizo and Vales do Rio localities, remains “a major concern” and has led to the closure of a municipal road, the local council added.
Carlos Belarmino, the president of the Alvoco da Serra Parish Council, informed Lusa news agency that the fire has reportedly reached the Torre da Serra da Estrela and is moving towards the Snow Clearing Center of Infraestruturas de Portugal.
The parish headquarters still faces worrying fire fronts, which were close to residential areas during the afternoon, according to the official.
The wildfires in Seia and Covilhã originated from a blaze that broke out a week ago in Piódão, Arganil, in the Coimbra district, and has spread to the Castelo Branco and Guarda districts.
A provisional report by the Institute for the Conservation of Nature and Forests indicates that this fire has already affected an area exceeding 40,000 hectares.
