Early morning updates, Monday: Fire still classed as active. Main road between Aljezur and Bensafrim (E120) still closed to traffic both ways. Over 500 firefighters on ground trying to contain this fire to the ‘Mata de Barão’ forest area above the villages of Barão de São João and Barão São Miguel. Cooler temperatures and humidity overnight have helped combat. Wind also dropped, which was a positive. Aerial support at time of writing had still not been able to return to combat, will probably do so around 8am. Reignitions as far back as the original starting point of the fire, in Tramelo, Alfambras (Aljezur municipality) have been taking place through the night – the most recent around 4am at which time residents on the ground say firefighters were not in evidence. This changed however following a 112 call, and the reignition was quickly brought under control.
Image taken in Tramelo, Alframbras, in the early hours of Monday morning when firefighters were no longer in area
Original text:
The wildfire that has been devouring hectares of scrub and woodland since early Sunday afternoon has now well and truly advanced from the municipality of Aljezur, and is bearing down on the villages of Barão de São João and Barão São Miguel in the neighbouring municipality of Lagos.
A press conference to give more updates is due shortly, but word on social networks is that ‘reignitions’ in burnt areas, even as far north as Alfambras (where the fire started) are still an issue, and keeping landowners and homeowners busy with hoses and buckets.
The real ‘danger’ though is now much more in the south.
Firefighting aircraft have had to stop for the day (due to lack of light), and their effectiveness was being hampered anyway due to the force of the wind, which was seeing gusts of up to 70 km/ hour.
The fire is being described still as having three active fronts. It has been advancing, since it began, at a rate of 1,360 metres per hour, consuming 52 hectares per hour, according to a source for Civil Protection – and this has prevented firefighters from being able to tackle all three fronts at once.
Right now (8pm), there are around 450 firefighters on the ground, with reinforcements expected.
The local veterinary clinic in Espiche, south of Barão de São João, has already said it is open to receiving animals, including horses, that need to be evacuated, although it cannot provide transport.
If the press conference comes online, we will bring updates.
Hopes are that the strong north wind will drop overnight, allowing firefighters to get ‘ahead’ of this blaze, and stop it advancing any further.
Lagos mayor Hugo Pereira has already been interviewed on television, and says the plan is to keep the fire ‘corralled’ where it is within the ‘Mata de Barão’, to stop it entering the villages.
There has been talk of one home destroyed, but these have not been confirmed. If true, it is a wooden property belonging to a foreigner who is currently ‘out of the country’.
