“The situation is very serious in the parish of Panque, in the municipality of Barcelos. The fire is burning with great violence, driven by the wind,” said the commander of the Ponte de Lima Volunteer Firefighters.
In statements to Lusa news agency, Carlos Lima added that “there are no homes at imminent risk, but there are houses in the vicinity of the fire.”
“So far none have been at risk. The operatives are positioned to divert the fire from the urban area,” he explained.
According to Carlos Lima, when “the firefighters arrived at the scene, the fire was already burning with great intensity, and it was not possible to clearly see the point of origin.”
At 17:50, according to information on the official website of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), the fire mobilized 87 operatives, 26 vehicles, and two aerial resources.
Also in the district of Viana do Castelo, the fight against the fire that broke out on Tuesday night in São Jorge and Ermelo, in Arcos de Valdevez, was “evolving favorably” at 17:50, according to the second commander of the Alto Minho Sub-regional Command, Carlos Pereira.
“We have a large part [of the fire] under control, but we still have two active fronts, and the work is progressing favorably,” he said, noting that, in addition to the wind, difficulty in accessing the flames has hindered the action of the operatives.
“By the end of the day, the expectation is to be able to declare the fire as controlled. So far, there are no injuries to report, and no houses are in danger,” he added.
At 17:50, the fire in Arcos de Valdevez mobilized 237 operatives, 72 vehicles, and six aerial resources.
