Last Update 15:25
Group of 61 Spanish scouts among 77 people evacuated in Cascais
A group of 61 Spanish children are among the 77 people who had to be evacuated on Tuesday because of the fire that broke out in the town of Zambujeiro, in Alcabideche, Cascais, commander Elísio Oliveira said today.
In anupdatetothemedia at the command post, at around 13:15, the regional commander of Emergency and Civil Protection of Lisbon and Tagus Valley said that a total of 77 people had to be removed from that area because of the fire.
“We maintain the number of 77 people who went to the support areas, of which 61 are children. It is a group of Spanish scouts. At the moment, everything is being prepared for them to collect their equipment and return to their country,” he told reporters:
Group of 61 Spanish scouts among 77 people evacuated in Cascais
Last Update 12:48
Two injured from Alcabideche discharged and animals removed back to kennels
Two of the injured from the fire that was subdued at dawn today in Alcabideche, Cascais, were discharged and six remain in hospital units, Civil Protection announced, adding that the animals removed from kennels have already “returned to their places of origin”:
Alcabideche fire: Two injured from Alcabideche discharged and animals removed back to kennels
Last Update 07:18
Cascais fire contained, traffic resumed on A5
Traffic was reopened on the A5, between the Alvide and Cascais junctions, in both directions, Brisa Autoestradas announced today in a statement sent to Lusa.
The circulation on Highway 5 (A5) was cut on Tuesday afternoon, in both directions, between the Alvide and Cascais nodes due to the fire that broke out in Alcabideche, in the municipality of Cascais, GNR source told Lusa.
The fire was reported to have been subdued by 04:00, with 591 operatives on site, supported by 182 vehicles, according to the website of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).
The forest fire broke out around 17:00 in Alcabideche, in the Lisbon district.
Nine firefighters suffered minor injuries in the firefighting, mostly all due to “exhaustion situations”, and four civilians were assisted “by smoke inhalation”, added the commander of the Sub-Regional Command of Emergency and Civil Protection of Greater Lisbon, Hugo Santos, in a situation report carried out at 23:45 on Tuesday.
The forest fire led to the withdrawal of nearly 90 people “as a precaution”, including two groups of Portuguese and Spanish scouts, the mayor of Cascais, Carlos Carreiras (PSD), told Lusa.
Hugo Santos detailed that residents were removed from the localities of Zambujeiro, Cabreiro or Murches.
Around 800 animals were also removed from the municipal kennel and the São Francisco de Assis Association, which were transferred to another municipal pavilion, explained Carlos Carreiras.
Last Update 01:15
Fire in Cascais with 13 injured among firefighters and civilians
“About 70% of the perimeter of the fire is already dominated, however, we still have long hours of work ahead of us, in combating the sectors that are still active and also in all the consolidation work that has to be done, to ensure that there are no reactivations”, explained the commander of the Sub-Regional Command of Emergency and Civil Protection of Greater Lisbon, Hugo Santos, in a point of situation held at 23:45 on Tuesday.
Hugo Santos stressed that the wind remains a cause for concern, noting that “strong gusts at speeds between 70 and 80 kilometers per hour” continue to occur.
Nine firefighters suffered minor injuries in the fight against the flames, mostly all due to “exhaustion situations”, while four civilians were assisted “by smoke inhalation”, said the same source.
On site, 685 operatives, supported by 190 vehicles, fought at 00:00 today the forest fire that broke out near 17:00 in Alcabideche, Cascais municipality, Lisbon district, according to the website of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC).
The forest fire led to the withdrawal of nearly 90 people “as a precaution”, including two groups of Portuguese and Spanish scouts, the mayor of Cascais told Lusa.
Carlos Carreiras (PSD) mentioned, in a situation report held at 23:15 on Tuesday, that ten citizens were removed from their homes to a municipal sports pavilion.
This equipment also received two groups of scouts, totaling 77 elements, Portuguese and Spanish, who were in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, he said, adding that the withdrawal of people occurred “as a precaution” and that they “were not running any obvious risk”.
Hugo Santos detailed that residents were removed from the localities of Zambujeiro, Cabreiro or Murches.
Around 800 animals were also removed from the municipal kennel and the São Francisco de Assis Association, which were transferred to another municipal pavilion, explained Carlos Carreiras.
As a precaution, some roads were also closed, “not because of the fire, but because of the smoke, and also to facilitate access to civil protection and security means”.
GNR source had already indicated to Lusa that Highway 5 (A5), which connects Cascais to Lisbon, was cut between the Alvide and Cascais nodes, in both directions.
By 19:30, the commander of the Sub-Regional Command of Emergency and Civil Protection of Greater Lisbon, Hugo Santos, had pointed out that the fight will be hampered by the wind and the “constant need to reposition means”.
Another source from the Sub-Regional Command of Emergency and Civil Protection of Greater Lisbon also indicated that a firefighter suffered minor injuries due to smoke inhalation.
Traffic on Highway 5 (A5) was cut in both directions between the Alvide and Cascais junctions. “Traffic is being diverted to Highway 16 (A16),” added a GNR source to the Lusa agency.
The alert for the fire was given at around 17:00, with the flames burning near a residential area.
Cascais fire update from yesterday
Update 20:32 – 25/07/2023:
Fire. Evacuated locality of Zambujeiro in the municipality of Cascais
The town of Zambujeiro, in the municipality of Cascais, is being evacuated due to the forest fire that is burning in that area today, a source from the National Republican Guard told Lusa.
The firefighting resources were reinforced, being at 19h40 on site 423 operational, supported by 111 vehicles and 14 air means.
The fire, for which an alert was given at 16h58, started in the locality of Zambujeiro, in a mountain area, and has two active fronts.
The fire is close to housing, with the wind being the main difficulty in fighting the flames, a source from the Sub-Regional Command for Emergency and Civil Protection of Greater Lisbon told Lusa.
#IRCascais
Situação complicada pelo forte vento que sopra como habitualmente nesta zona do país, onde a NORTADA manda.
📩 Capelo Lobo pic.twitter.com/dmosDj5q1F— Márcio Santos – Meteorologia e Ambiente (@MeteoTrasMontPT) July 25, 2023
Regarding the proximity of the fire to the Cascais Hospital (also in the parish of Alcabideche, but in a denser urban fabric) and the Pisão Social Center (in the mountain area), the same source said that these “sensitive areas are safeguarded and being monitored by firefighters”.
According to GNR, circulation on Highway 5 (A5) was cut off this afternoon in both directions between the Alvide and Cascais nodes.
The Sub-Regional Command of Emergency and Civil Protection of Greater Lisbon also indicated that there is an injured person – a firefighter – who suffered minor injuries due to smoke inhalation.
Update 21:32 – 25/07/2023:
Operatives fighting fire in Cascais increased to 637
The number of operatives fighting the fire in the municipality of Cascais today increased to 637, but air resources decreased to one due to nightfall, according to Civil Protection.
The website of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) reported that, at 9:00 pm, 637 operatives were fighting the fire, which started at 16:58 in the locality of Zambujeiro, in Alcabideche, in the municipality of Cascais, supported by 169 vehicles and an aerial means.
The forest fire that has been burning since this afternoon in the municipality of Cascais did not cause damage to homes until 19:30, nor was it putting the county hospital at risk, according to a balance made by the commander of the Sub-Regional Command of Emergency and Civil Protection of Greater Lisbon.
Hugo Santos said that the fire led to the removal of several people from homes, “as a precaution”.
The commander acknowledged that, in the coming hours, the fight will be hampered by the wind and the “constant need to reposition means”.
The GNR indicated that the village of Zambujeiro has been evacuated. The fire has been burning in the mountains, but towards the denser urban fabric.
The Sub-Regional Command of Emergency and Civil Protection of Greater Lisbon also indicated that a firefighter suffered minor injuries due to smoke inhalation.
Regarding the interrupted roads, traffic was cut off on Highway 5 (A5) and some “punctual cuts” were made on the surrounding roads.
GNR source had already indicated to Lusa that the A5 was cut between the Alvide and Cascais nodes, in both directions.
