FIRES WHICH started on Monday in Sardoal in the north of Portugal continue to rage and have spread to the neighbouring Mação, destroying more than 2,000 hectares of forest so far.
The fire started in Cimo do Ribeiro in Sardoal at 1.46pm and was said to be 90 per cent extinguished by 6am on Tuesday. A rise in temperature and drop in humidity levels then caused some fronts to reignite by lunchtime.
“A front of many kilometres was alight in the counties of Sardoal, Mação and Abrantes,” said Rui Natário, a spokesman for the rescue operations.
Fire fighters concentrated their efforts near populated areas, however, several houses in the town of Mouriscas came very close to being burnt. Strong winds have caused the fires to change direction suddenly and as a result, part of the A23 motorway was closed on Tuesday.
Around 400 firemen have been combating the flames, supported by 109 vehicles, three heavy aero tanks, four army platoons, and Polícia Judiciária (PJ) investigators from Leiria.
It is believed by the authorities that the fire was deliberate. A spokesman for the PJ said: “We are closely accompanying the fires and there are no definite conclusions yet but there are clues that it was a deliberate act.”
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