at least six permanent homes, plus several vacant properties engulfed by flames – Portugal Resident

According to Civil Protection, five people have been reported injured, including three firefighters, a member of the GNR and a civilian as the fire that broke out in Valpaços on Tuesday afternoon continues to thwart methods of combat. 

According to reports early this morning, “the fire has gained momentum in recent hours. The villages of Gorgoço and Santa Velha have been the worst affected”, with a number of properties, at least six of which were permanent homes, engulfed by flames.

The fire spread yesterday to the neighbouring municipality of Mirandela. There are currently around 800 firefighters on the ground, supported by more than 250 ground-based resources, with firefighting planes and helicopters due to go up, but hampered by the thick smoke hanging over the area.

According to SIC Notícias, a total of 21 homes have been damaged, if not destroyed, by the fire – the six already mentioned, plus two holiday homes. The rest were “unoccupied”, says the media outlet, adding that “at least three people have been left homeless”.

Last night, focus was on persuading residents of the village of Vale de Telhas, in Mirandela, to leave their homes, and shelter in the parish council building while firefighters worked to protect the area, which was ‘surrounded by flames’. 

As of early this morning, this Valpaços fire is the only active wildfire in the country – in stark contrast to the terrible situations playing out in other countries, namely France and Greece (Crete). The blazes in Spain this morning appear to be more under control, with a lot of the communities evacuated already having been allowed to return to their homes.

“All of Europe” could be on fire in coming days  EU agency

The stress has not been assuaged by comments by the head of the EU’s emergency response coordination centre who has said that “all Europe” could be “on fire” by the start of August (only two days away). The short term outlook remains “very difficult” for France, said Maria Zuber – where fires around Bordeaux have caused exceptional damages – and there are fears that new fires will break out in Greece, Italy and Central Europe.

As far as Portugal is concerned, new wildfires will break out in the country. It is just a question of whether authorities can bring them under control before they have time to really take hold.

Source material: SIC Notícias/ Sky news