“Mainly in the northern area of the fire, Penedono, Sernancelhe, São João da Pesqueira, but also in Aguiar da Beira, there are a number of risky situations as the fire is more intense there,” stated the Center’s second regional commander in an interview at 3:10 PM.
Jody Rato also acknowledged that “several villages are surrounded by flames,” but chose not to specify, “not only because there are many, but to avoid causing alarm, since resources are working in all of them to quickly resolve the situation.”
The commander emphasized that “firefighters are focusing on establishing perimeter defenses because the protection of people and property is the priority, followed by the firefighting itself.”
“Monitoring is being carried out in all situations,” he assured.
The villages throughout the region are affected by the fire, which originated in two locations: Sátão (Viseu district) and Trancoso (Guarda district) and has now spread to 10 municipalities across the two districts.
The fire impacts the municipalities of Sátão, Sernancelhe, Moimenta da Beira, Penedono, and is “also encroaching” on São João da Pesqueira (Viseu district), Aguiar da Beira, Trancoso, Fornos de Algodres, Meda, and Celorico da Beira (Guarda district).
The alert for the Freches fire in Trancoso municipality, Guarda district, was raised on Saturday, the 9th, at 5:21 PM.
As of 3:15 PM, there were 497 personnel fighting this fire, supported by 173 vehicles, as reported on the official page of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).
The Vila Boa fire in Ferreira de Aves parish, Sátão, Viseu district, was reported at 1:03 AM on Wednesday, the 13th, and reached the municipalities of Sernancelhe, also in Viseu district, and Aguiar da Beira, Guarda district, on the same day.
At 3:15 PM, 1,013 personnel were combating this fire, supported by 324 vehicles and 10 aerial resources, according to the ANEPC’s official page.
