An alert for the first fire was issued at 2:27 PM, and by 4:08 PM, 283 operatives were deployed on the ground, supported by 71 vehicles and 12 aerial units, according to the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection. The Territorial Command of the Leiria GNR confirmed that the IC8 highway was closed around 2:50 PM, between Pedrógão Grande and Pedrógão Pequeno.
The second fire, also in the municipality of Pedrógão Grande, in the parish of Graça, reportedly started at 3:21 PM, according to the ANEPC website. As of 4:08 PM, 150 operatives were on-site, backed by 42 vehicles and one aerial unit.
The Territorial Command of the Leiria GNR also reported that National Road 2 in the Pedrógão Grande area is closed, as well as several secondary roads.
The community of Pedrógão Grande has been shaken by the return of fires, eight years after the major blazes in the region.
The fires that broke out on June 17, 2017, in Pedrógão Grande and spread to neighboring municipalities claimed 66 lives and injured 253 people, seven critically. The fires destroyed about 500 homes and 50 businesses.
This year, mainland Portugal has faced numerous large-scale rural fires since July, particularly in the North and Central regions.
The fires have resulted in four fatalities, including one firefighter, and several injuries, some severe, and have completely or partially destroyed primary and secondary residences, along with agricultural and livestock farms and forest areas.
Portugal has activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism, granting access to two Fire Boss planes, a Super Puma helicopter, and two Canadair planes.
According to provisional official data, by August 23, approximately 248,000 hectares had burned across the country, with more than 57,000 in the fire that began in Arganil.
