A deputy commander of the Montalegre Fire Brigade, Júlio Lopes, stated that a fire began at noon in Gralhas, at the base of the Larouco mountain, with the village of Padornelos once being at risk, although the situation has since been resolved.
The fire, he explained, has two active fronts burning intensely through bushland and oak trees.
On the ground, there was an “insufficient number” of resources available, with only 35 personnel as of 4:30 PM, aided by aerial resources.
However, additional resources are en route to tackle the fire raging in the north of the Vila Real district.
According to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC)’s website, by 4:30 PM, there were 125 personnel, 34 vehicles, and 10 aerial resources mobilized in Montalegre.
Júlio Lopes mentioned that there was already an ignition in the village of Gralhas on Thursday night, which had been resolved, but a fire has reignited in the area today.
