According to data available on the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) website, of these operatives, more than 1,400 were concentrated in four large areas, in the districts of Setúbal, Leiria and Faro.

Pombal fire

The fire that broke out on Friday, in the town of Vale de Pia, in the municipality of Pombal (Leiria), continues to be the one that mobilises the most resources, with 451 operational personnel on the ground, supported by 113 vehicles and seven aerial means.

This afternoon, the flames were approaching the municipality of Ansião, having already forced the evacuation of people in two villages of the municipality (also in the district of Leiria).

According to the president of the Parish Council of Santiago da Guarda, David Baptista Rodrigues, the situation has again “worsened” and the parish of Santiago de Guarda “is in danger”.

Caranguejeira fire

The fire that started on Tuesday in Caranguejeira, in the municipality of Leiria, involves 367 firefighters, with 113 vehicles.

Algarve fire

Also on Tuesday, but already at night, at 11:30 pm, a fire broke out in Gambelas, near the University of the Algarve, which has now moved to the Quinta do Lago area, with preventative evacuations taking place.

Lusa agency contacted the Faro District Relief Operations Command several times this afternoon to try to obtain more information, but without success.

According to the Civil Protection website, at 5:30 pm, 330 operatives were mobilised for this fire, with the support of 117 vehicles and four air assets.

Palmela fire

Already today, at 12:00, a fire broke out in the village of Palmela, in the district of Setúbal, which mobilised 282 operatives, 90 vehicles and four air assets in the middle of the afternoon.

According to the vice-president of the City Council, Luís Miguel Calha, the Palmela Social Center and some houses have already been evacuated because of the fire. At 16:00, the fire also forced the closure of the Baixa de Palmela road, which connects Palmela to Setúbal, in both directions.

Ourém fire

The fire that started on Thursday afternoon in the União de Freguesias da Freixianda, Ribeira do Fárrio and Formigais, in the municipality of Ourém, also spread to Ferreira do Zêzere (both in the district of Santarém) and Alvaiázere, in district of Leiria, already appears on the ANEPC website as being “under resolution”, but continues to mobilise 474 operatives, supported by 150 vehicles.

This afternoon, the mayor of Alvaiázere told Lusa that he was tired of asking for means to fight fires and of being left unanswered, regretting that the county is being abandoned.

“We feel abandoned. We are tired of asking for means without an answer,” he said.

Mainland Portugal is in a contingency situation until 23:59 on Friday due to weather forecasts, which point to a worsening risk of fire, with temperatures that are due exceed 45º in some parts of the country.