2024 seemed to be a quiet year regarding forest fires in Portuguese territory, however, it was during September that the reality changed. From Central to Northern Portugal more than 50 fires raged, threatening houses and animals, besides all the forest territory in the area.
Aveiro and Viseu districts were the most affected in Portugal, having major fires in Albergaria-a-Velha and Sever do Vouga, as well as Castro Daire, in Viseu, that mobilised thousands of firemen to fight the fires. However, Coimbra, Porto and Vila Real districts were also affected. To help the Portuguese corporations, foreign aid was provided by Spain and Morrocco, and even some extra support from the European Union.
It was on 20 September that all the fires ceased, and according to Rádio Renascença almost 150,000 hectares were burned in the Portuguese forest, of which 10,000 of the burned area is in the Aveiro municipality. According to people on the ground, the weather conditions did not help in the fight to combat the flames. High temperatures, above 30ºC and the strong wind, let the flames spread rapidly, making it difficult for firemen and locals to stop the fire, that was already surrounding houses.
Dozens of houses were destroyed, there were nine deaths registered and more than a hundred people were injured. Regarding the registered deaths, three were part of a firemen corporation. Sónia Cláudia Melo and Susana Cristina Carvalho, both firemen, were driving to Vila Nova de Oliveirinha, in the Coimbra district, got stuck in the middle of the flames, and were unable to escape the heat and flames. João Manuel Silva was a 60-year-old fireman who died while combating the fire in Albergaria-a-Velha. In the same locality, a worker died in the flames while trying to recover material from the company he was employed by. The Brazilian emigrant, Carlos Eduardo was 28 years old and had been living in Portugal for five years. The identity of the other victims has not been revealed.
What caused the fires?
Forest fires are included in the list of natural disasters; however, the Portuguese authorities have identified more than 20 people for arson in forests. During the most recent fires, Polícia Judiciária arrested seven suspects for setting the forest on fire. A 55-year-old man, in Cacia, Aveiro, was detained for arson, being a suspect who was already identified for the same crimes in the past. In Santo Tirso, a 50-year-old man was accused of causing a fire in the region, although the suspect alleged that he was burning trash, without intending to cause a forest fire. In Pombal, Leiria, a 75-year-old man was also identified and also alleged that he was only burning agricultural surplus. In Alvaiázere, a 33-year-old woman was found suspicious of setting fires on 13 and 16 September, while in Sebal and Condeixa-a-Nova, a 47-years-old woman is suspected of causing four different fires on 12 and 13 September, and 15 and 16 September. The president of the parish Campo, in Valongo, Porto district was also detained along with three employees for setting a fire in the region.
Given the suspects, the Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro said that the Government would make sure that the criminals pay for their crimes as well as confirming that help will be given to those who lost their homes and land.
Deeply in love with music and with a guilty pleasure in criminal cases, Bruno G. Santos decided to study Journalism and Communication, hoping to combine both passions into writing. The journalist is also a passionate traveller who likes to write about other cultures and discover the various hidden gems from Portugal and the world. Press card: 8463.
Bruno G. Santos