Almost 2,000 firefighters were battling flames at 4.15 this morning as fires assailing north and central regions show little sign of calming.
According to some of the early morning reports, more 1,000 firefighters were engaged in combat in the northern Beiras and Serra da Estrela regions (areas tragically too often ‘visited’ by wildfires).
ANEPC (the nation’s emergency and civil protection authority) reports that currently the largest active blaze is in Trancoso e Freches, while other serious fires are burning in Covilhã and Sobral de São Miguel.
The Trancoso fire is still active on three fronts, and early this morning, news came through of six people having been injured (three of them firefighters), and a further 11 assisted for problems due to smoke inhalation.
A source from the Beiras and Serra da Estrela Sub-Regional Command suggests the situation nonetheless “is evolving favourably”, that “some situations are already under control (…) no members of the public are at risk, but we cannot give any further details.” It is far too early into another day of intense heat to be too certain about anything.
In the Douro region, the fire in Sirarelhos, Vila Real, is currently mobilising 382 firefighters and 130 vehicles; the fire in Moimenta concentrates 198 firefighters and 57 vehicles. In the fire that has been raging in Tabuaço since Saturday night, 107 firefighters supported by 72 vehicles are fighting the flames.
Portugal has been in a ‘state of alert’ due to hot weather forecasts and the rising risks of wildfires for over a week already – and the next couple of days will see temperatures ‘even higher’, increasing risks further. Temperatures are really only expected to drop in any significant way at the weekend. Authorities have been pointing to ‘August 13’ as a tad optimistic.
For the next few days (until August 13 at least) access, movement and staying in forest areas is prohibited, in accordance with municipal forest fire defence plans, as is the burning of waste vegetation, with permits issued for this period also being suspended.
The alert also means that work in forest and rural areas using machinery is prohibited and the use of fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices is prohibited. In this last prohibition, authorisations already issued are also suspended.
Source material: LUSA
