Wildfire in Torre de Moncorvo: More than 400 Firefighters on Field

Unfortunately, in this scorching heat in mid-August, we started to receive the news we feared the most. The forest fire, which started on Saturday in Torre de Moncorvo in the Bragança region, spread to the neighboring municipality of Carrazeda de Ansiães, and a major fight is currently being waged on three separate active fronts.

Challenging Terrain and Worsening Weather Conditions Make Things Difficult

The picture on the field is truly thought-provoking. The mountainous, steep and rugged structure of the region makes the teams' work incredibly difficult. At points where vehicles cannot easily enter, the job is left entirely to pedestrian teams and aerial interventions.

Details of the situation on the field as of noon are as follows:

Teams: More than 440 personnel, 145 vehicles and 4 aircraft actively support the extinguishing efforts. Land and air forces are also taking part in the operation.

Fronts: According to the information provided by Civil Protection, a total of three critical fronts, two in Carrazeda de Ansiães and one in Torre de Moncorvo, are still burning.

Weather Threat: Unfortunately, meteorological conditions do not work in our favor. Increasing temperatures and stronger winds can pave the way for new exacerbations during the day. Teams are racing against time to prevent these sudden flashes.

Meanwhile, along with Bragança, Viana do Castelo, Braga, Porto, Vila Real, Aveiro, Viseu, Guarda and Coimbra are among the regions with an orange alert due to excessive heat. The fact that the weather is so dry and windy shows once again how high the risk is across the country.

Source: Lusa

News: Michael Bruxo (Portugal Resident)

Photo Source: EPA / Pedro Sarmento Costa