The fire that broke out last Thursday in the Portuguese area of Vouzela, in the center-north of the country, has already ravaged 13,000 hectares of forest mass, according to the most recent official report, which emphasizes that the international resources deployed will focus on this fire due to its special seriousness.
The vice-president of the Vouzela Municipal Chamber, Marco Dias, has indicated that the advance of the flames could be under control by late Sunday afternoon. "It is calmer, although it is not yet controlled. We are concerned about two fronts," in Águeda and Vouzela, Dias told Portuguese public television, RTP.
1,352 operatives supported by 450 ground vehicles are participating in the extinction efforts, including the contingent of the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) deployed from Spain.
"This fire is costing us a lot due to the heat. It has been many days of extreme heat. The ground is very hot. When you put out a fire, it flares up again immediately, and the wind also makes extinction very difficult for us," explained a spokesperson for the Spanish contingent of 120 soldiers --110 from León and ten from Madrid--, Manuel López, in statements to RTP.
In their area of operation, Tondela, the situation is more stabilized, and the day is being dedicated to securing the progress made on Saturday in protecting sensitive points and expanding the defense lines. "Let's see if we can perimeter it today, which would be a very good thing," López pointed out.
At the same time, the Portuguese National Guard has reported the arrest of a 62-year-old man accused of starting a fire through negligence in the town of Cortica, in the municipality of Alvaiázere, in the district of Leiria, less than 100 kilometers from Vouzela.
The fire registered on Friday "originated from agricultural work with a disc brush cutter," the military police force reported. The fire scorched 250 square meters before being extinguished.