After flames swept through and “burned everything, only the houses were saved” in the village of Meãs, arriving with “extreme violence” around 5:00 PM and remaining active for 48 hours on the slopes above the town, Jorge Custódio expressed his disappointment and concern to the Lusa agency, criticizing the fire’s operational command.
“[The fire] has become so large that it already has a front several kilometers long. And the problem is this: even if we were dealing with this line of fire, if there were an attack strategy. But right now, the only attack strategy is to protect the people, nothing else,” he lamented.
In addition to Meãs and the nearby Aradas, where the fire also reached, Jorge Custódio noted that Portela de Unhais and the parish seat of Unhais-o-Velho “are also a concern.”
The mayor emphasized that municipal services, parish councils, and the GNR (National Republican Guard) along with “even some firefighters” have been trying in recent days to convince residents to leave the villages voluntarily as a precaution, “and very few people agree to leave.”
“Because most prefer to stay and defend their belongings and their things,” he pointed out, referring to those who defend neighbors or even vacationers who fight the flames in the villages, showing solidarity with the residents.
“In such distress, people let down their barriers, their problems, and everyone tries to help. Someone recently told me that our dimension in the face of this fire seems, comparatively, like ants when there is any problem and they become disoriented,” Jorge Custódio illustrated.
On another note, the mayor reiterated the need for more firefighting resources in Pampilhosa da Serra, where the fire spread from a blaze that began on Wednesday in the Piódão parish of the neighboring Arganil municipality.
“I heard reports of incoming planes and resources, but these resources need to be truly and permanently engaged in this fight. Because soon, we will have a fire in Pampilhosa almost identical to the one in 2017, we’re getting close,” he argued.
Regarding the front burning near the village of Relvas (Arganil), which was Jorge Custódio’s major concern this morning due to its proximity to entering Pampilhosa da Serra, the situation did not turn severe during the day. The mayor mentioned that “it is under control.”
“The same [operational] command that is here is controlling that front, taking measures to prevent this line of fire from descending to the Ceira River. Compared to the excesses experienced here [in the uncontrolled Meãs front], it is controlled, at least for now,” stressed the mayor of Pampilhosa da Serra.
By late tonight, at 11:10 PM, nearly six days after the Arganil fire broke out, the on-ground deployment is the largest ever.
According to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, more than 1,100 operatives supported by 384 vehicles are on the ground.
Continental Portugal has suffered from multiple rural fires since July, primarily in the North and Center regions, amidst high temperatures that led to the declaration of an alert state starting August 2.
The fires resulted in two deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries, mostly non-serious, with the destruction of either fully or partially homes, as well as agricultural, livestock operations, and forest areas.
Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, under which two Fire Boss planes are expected to arrive on Monday to bolster firefighting efforts.
According to provisional official data, by August 17, 172,000 hectares had burned in the country, exceeding the total burned area for 2024.
