the fire which took place this afternoon in Vale Longo, in the municipality of Ourique, maintains an active front and «there is the expectation of controlling the fire during the night». In the theater of operations there are 289 operational, supported by 93 vehicles. With nightfall, the air assets were demobilized.
Lucínia Aires, second district commander of Relief Operations in Beja, told reporters, around midnight, that "at the moment the fire has only one active front, two of which have already been subdued."
Lucínia Aires's expectation is that the fire will be controlled «during the night», since «the works are progressing favourably».
However, the official admits that there may be "a change in weather conditions" that alters this forecast.
From 6:00 in the morning, “an intensification of the wind is expected, but we expect to have the entire fire consolidated by then,” he added.
To combat the flames, the Forest Fire Reinforcement Groups (GRIF) of the districts of Faro, Setúbal, Évora and Lisbon. Two groups of the Special Civil Protection Force (FEPC) were also mobilized.
The alert was given at 13:21 pm and, in the afternoon, the fire consumed pasture, bush and eucalyptus. According to Lucínia Aires, “there were some houses in front of fire, but they were protected by land means. We have no indication of burnt or injured homes"
During the afternoon, six air vehicles helped the firefighters to fight the fire, which caused a column of smoke that was visible in the Algarve, especially in the central area.
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