A 46-year-old man has been detained on suspicion of setting fire to a eucalyptus area near the Casarão Industrial Zone in Aguada de Cima, Águeda, last Wednesday, July 2. Authorities reported the suspect exhibited “a strong alcohol addiction.”
The Police Judiciary (PJ) described the suspect’s method as using a direct flame to ignite the fire in the eucalyptus area, which had significant dry underbrush and was surrounded by various industrial facilities and residences, according to a statement acquired by Notícias ao Minuto on Friday.
The statement further noted that the fire “did not escalate into a more severe situation because it was detected early by locals, who immediately alerted authorities, allowing for a swift and effective response.”
Authorities admitted they could not determine any rational motivation or plausible explanation for the actions under investigation, attributing them to a severe alcohol addiction.
The man will be brought before judicial authorities for his initial legal interrogation and the potential application of preventive measures in the Aveiro district.
This action was carried out by the Aveiro Criminal Investigation Department of the Polícia Judiciária, in collaboration with the National Republican Guard (GNR), through the Nature Protection Unit of the Águeda Territorial Detachment.
The man had “a conflict with his employer” and used accelerants to create “various fire spots in the sawmill.” After leaving the site, he fell into a well where he was found hours later.
Notícias ao Minuto | 14:03 – 03/07/2025
Over 30 municipalities in five districts are at maximum risk of wildfire this Friday, according to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA).
The IPMA also classified nearly all municipalities in the 18 mainland districts as being at very high and high risk.
The institute’s forecasts indicate that the risk of rural fires will remain high in some districts in the coming days.
From the beginning of the year until this Friday, 2,720 fire incidents were recorded, burning 7,846 hectares of rural land, based on data from the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF).
Due to ongoing hot weather, IPMA issued a yellow warning for the districts of Portalegre, Castelo Branco, Beja, and Évora until 18:00, as well as Bragança, Guarda, and Vila Real until 21:00.
Approximately 650 firefighters from 14 EU countries are ready to combat expected fires in the most sensitive areas of Portugal, Spain, Greece, and France, the European Commission disclosed today.
Lusa | 11:49 – 03/07/2025
