The operations officer of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) Rodrigo Bretelo said that "during the night there was no need to evacuate localities", adding that "there were no houses in danger" and that the "three fires were always at the level of consolidation and aftermath as well as the level of danger to controlled dwellings and populations”.

“At this time, the fire in Cumeada, municipality of Ourém, in Santarém, which started on Thursday and which has 585 operational and 196 vehicles, continues. The fire is mostly in resolution and active surveillance. It just didn't actually pass the resolution (…) because we had some reactivations overnight. As the area is very extensive and we have many hot spots, surveillance and aftermath are maintained in place,” operations officer Rodrigo Bretelo, from Civil Protection.

According to the official of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), the fire that broke out at 15:50 on Friday in Vale da Pia, municipality of Pombal, is also in the same situation of aftermath and active surveillance. It mobilized 342 operatives, with the support of 108 vehicles.

“Given the extensive area of ​​the fire, it remains ongoing, despite the fact that in its perimeter we are in active surveillance work”, he indicated.

Also worrying the firefighters is the fire that broke out at 15:15 on Sunday in Canedo, municipality of Ribeira de Pena, in the district of Vila Real, which was being fought by 150 operatives at 8am with the help of 143 vehicles.

“At 7:10 am it was in the aftermath, but in one of its sectors it was active”, he said.

The ANEPC operations officer also said that in the coming hours, air assets should be activated if necessary to help in the fight.

State of contingency

Mainland Portugal entered today at 00:00 in a contingency situation, which should end at 23:59 on Friday, but could be extended if necessary.

The declaration of the contingency situation was decided due to weather forecasts for the next few days, which point to an aggravation of the risk of fire, with temperatures that can exceed 45º in some parts of the country.

Due to the risk situation, Portugal activated the European Civil Protection Mechanism and the European Commission mobilised, on Sunday, two Spanish planes to fight fires in Portuguese territory.