By 10:00 PM, the situation appeared more favorable in the fire that broke out at 3:06 PM in Paradela de Guiães, Sabrosa municipality, Vila Real district, which burned through brush and pine trees, spreading between villages.
This marks the third major fire in Sabrosa since July, following an initial blaze affecting Souto Maior and another that began in São Cibrão (Vila Real), extending to São Martinho de Anta. About 1,500 hectares burned in the first two incidents.
“It’s a strange coincidence—three fires in less than a month. There must be criminal intent behind this,” stated Helena Lapa, Mayor of Sabrosa.
The mayor mentioned that today’s fire reportedly started in “two different places.”
“This is all very odd; this part of the municipality hadn’t been affected yet. There were some attempts that were fortunately contained,” she remarked.
Fires have ignited almost daily in this district of Vila Real.
Helena Lapa noted that the fire’s spread today was “very rapid.”
“At this time [around 10:00 PM], the situation is more favorable. Ground reinforcements deployed during the afternoon are already at work, enhancing our combat capacity,” stated José Requeijo, the second sub-regional commander of Douro.
Nightfall, increased humidity, and lower temperatures are expected to aid containment efforts.
“The access routes where the ground teams are positioned also favor the firefighting efforts. Currently, there are two active fronts, each about one kilometer long, but in areas where fighting will likely be favorable in the coming hours,” José Requeijo further added.
The commander believes that in the coming hours, the incident “might be brought under control.”
“There are no villages at risk at the moment. The fire approached two villages, Sobrados and Fermentões, but defenses around dwellings were established, and there are no reports of property or structure damage, nor has there been a need for lockdowns or evacuations,” he noted.
José Requeijo cited difficulties such as “cumulative adverse weather, including hot and dry conditions, alongside the exhaustion of firefighting resources over this prolonged period.”
Mainland Portugal has been plagued by multiple large-scale rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Central regions.
The fires claimed four lives, including that of a firefighter, and injured several others, some seriously, while destroying or damaging primary and secondary homes, along with agricultural and livestock facilities and forested areas.
Portugal has activated the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, securing two Fire Boss planes, a Super Puma helicopter, and two Canadair aircraft.
According to provisional official data, approximately 250,000 hectares have burned nationwide by August 23, with over 57,000 hectares from the fire that began in Arganil.
