Vouzela wildfire passes 10,000 hectares as 80+ Portuguese municipalities hit maximum fire risk
The fire burning in Vouzela has consumed over 10,000 hectares and mobilises 1,200 firefighters. More than 80 inland municipalities are at maximum rural fire risk.
The Vouzela wildfire, in the Viseu district, has become the worst fire of the Portuguese summer: it has now consumed more than 10,000 hectares and keeps over 1,200 firefighters on the ground, supported by nine aerial units. At the same time, Thursday’s risk map turned red — more than 80 municipalities across the inland North and Centre, the Alentejo and the Algarve are at maximum rural fire risk.
How many municipalities are at maximum fire risk in Portugal?
More than 80, according to the Portuguese weather institute IPMA, concentrated in the inland North and Centre and in the Alentejo and Algarve regions. Heat is making things worse: Bragança and Guarda were under orange alert, with highs reaching 37°C in Castelo Branco. The updated fire-danger forecast is on IPMA’s website.
The fight in Vouzela caps an already worrying start to the summer: Portugal recorded six heatwaves by early July and activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism last week to reinforce firefighting resources. The nationwide state of alert is expected to remain in place into next week.
What does the state of alert change?
While it lasts, agricultural burning, fireworks and machinery work in rural areas are banned in the highest-risk municipalities — and emergency services stay on reinforced readiness. Guidance for residents and visitors is on the Civil Protection site.
This is also the summer when the heat stopped being a mere nuisance: health authority DGS confirmed this week 125 excess deaths since June. With the weekend promising more high temperatures, the watchword inland is a simple one — caution.
Image: Pedro from Maia (Porto), Portugal / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
