In a report to the Lusa agency at 11:45 AM, the sub-regional commander of Emergency and Civil Protection of Ave described “a calmer day” regarding the fires in the region. He added that there are still two active fires in the municipality of Póvoa de Lanhoso, which have already spread to the neighboring municipality of Vieira do Minho, where another fire is burning.
Rui Costa emphasized that no houses are at risk, with the flames consuming brush and forest. He admitted the possibility of reignitions in other fires that have already been controlled, due to the lack of mop-up and consolidation, as “there have been many occurrences and there was no response capacity” from the personnel on the ground.
One of the still active fires in Póvoa de Lanhoso broke out around 4:20 PM on Monday in Rendufinho, Monte de S. Mamede, and has already spread to Parada de Bouro in the neighboring municipality of Vieira do Minho. As of 12:00 PM, it was being fought by 40 firefighters supported by 13 vehicles.
The other fire in Póvoa de Lanhoso started in Sobradelo da Goma at 1:06 AM on Tuesday and has already spread to Guilhofrei in Vieira do Minho and to the neighboring municipality of Fafe. As of 12:00 PM today, it is being fought by 19 firefighters supported by six vehicles.
The other active fire in Vieira do Minho broke out during the last night, around 2:30 AM, in Cantelães, and is being fought by 35 firefighters supported by ten vehicles.
The fire that broke out on Monday night in the parishes of Gondiães and Vilar de Cunhas, in Cabeceiras de Basto, which surrounded the village of Samão, forcing residents to take refuge in a shelter, is already in the resolution phase.
The government has extended the state of alert until the end of Thursday, given the weather forecasts, as announced on Monday by the national commander of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC).
“Given the operational situation and the non-mitigation of the meteorological situation, the Government will extend the declaration of a state of alert until 11:59 PM on the 19th, that is, Thursday,” said André Fernandes, national commander of ANEPC.
