The alert for the fire in Vale Sumo, in the Union of Parishes of Santa Catarina da Serra and Chainça, in the municipality of Leiria, was raised at 1:03 PM.
The fire developed an active front in an area of scrubland, necessitating the closure of the EN113 road in both directions, between Olivais and Quinta da Sardinha.
According to the website of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), as of 10:35 PM, there were 69 operational personnel on-site, supported by 19 vehicles.
Mainland Portugal has been affected by multiple rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Center regions, in the context of high temperatures that prompted the declaration of a state of alert since August 2.
The fires have resulted in two deaths, including a firefighter, and several injuries, mostly minor, and have completely or partially destroyed primary and secondary homes, as well as agricultural and livestock operations and forest areas.
According to provisional official data, as of August 17, 172,000 hectares have burned nationwide, surpassing the total area burned in the entire year of 2024.
