The Algarve surf community has been left reeling after a devastating fire destroyed the Ferox Surfboards factory in São Brás de Alportel, wiping out more than two decades of work by renowned shaper Octávio Lourenço.
According to reports, around 200 surfboards were destroyed in the fire. The financial losses are estimated at more than €100,000 and are still being assessed. Adding to the blow, Lourenço did not have insurance, leaving him to face the full cost of the destruction alone.
What friends describe as “the worst possible way” to begin 2026 has turned into a powerful show of solidarity, as surfers, friends and volunteers rally to help rebuild a project many see as far more than just a business.
“The year 2026 began in the worst possible way: a fire destroyed the Ferox Surfboards factory in São Brás de Alportel — a project that is not just a surfboard brand, but a living part of Portugal’s surf community,” friends wrote in a message supporting a GoFundMe campaign launched in the aftermath of the blaze.
Founded more than 20 years ago, Ferox Surfboards grew into a respected name in Portuguese surfing. Lourenço, described by those around him as a shaper, artist and friend to all, has always placed “creativity, community, and surfing at the heart of everything he does”.
That long story was abruptly interrupted when the fire tore through the factory in the early hours of January 5, destroying everything inside. Finished boards, boards in production and others under repair were all lost, along with stockpiles of materials, specialised machinery, tools and essential accessories used in the handcrafted production of surfboards. The building itself was left so badly damaged that it is now unusable and must be completely rebuilt.
Friends stress that Ferox boards are not mass-produced items, but “the result of art, technique, passion, and a deep connection to the ocean and to people”. Over the years, Lourenço became known for creating high-quality custom boards, experimenting with innovative and eco-friendly materials, and supporting local surfers and young talents – many of whom went on to compete proudly on Ferox boards.
The project also has a charitable side, as Ferox was involved in inclusive surfing initiatives, producing adapted surfboards for people with different physical abilities and working with social organisations to make surfing accessible to everyone. For supporters, this makes the loss feel even heavier.
But sometimes there is light even in the darkest times. In the days following the fire, more than two dozen volunteers gathered at the site to help clear the wreckage, loading vans with burned materials and debris. At the same time, friends launched a fundraising campaign to help Lourenço take the first steps towards rebuilding.
“This fund is intended to support Octávio in taking the first steps toward rebuilding his project, covering initial costs for tools, materials, and workspace – and, more importantly, showing that the community stands with him,” the organisers explained. In just over one week, the campaign has raised more than €29,000, a figure that continues to grow by the day.
Those closest to Lourenço say the initiative had to come from friends, because asking for help is not in his nature. “We all know Octávio would never ask anything of anyone,” they wrote. “Those who know him understand that he is someone who has always given everything to others – time, knowledge, support, and opportunities – without ever expecting anything in return.”
All donations, they stress, will go entirely towards rebuilding the Ferox factory, allowing Lourenço to return to what he has always done: shaping boards, supporting surfers and giving back to the community. “Every contribution counts – it is a vote of confidence in the return of Ferox,” the message concludes, “and in the belief that when a community comes together, no wave is impossible.”
