Fire in Oliveira do Hospital under control and without active fronts

The forest fire raging in the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital, in the district of Coimbra, is "completely under control" and rescue efforts are underway, a local authority source said today.

In information provided to the Lusa news agency at 11:05, an official source from the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital indicated that the fire was “completely under control”.

“The active fronts that deserved more concern and that were [of concern] during the night, in the area of São Sebastião da Feira, parish of Penalva de Alva, and Vilela, in the parish of Nogueira do Cravo, have already been extinguished,” he said.

According to the same source from the Oliveira do Hospital municipality, the concern now is with “rekindling and carrying out the aftermath work”, indicating that the resources on the ground will “be paying close attention, because it is a very large area with difficult access”.

The source also admitted that there will be “a lot of work ahead in monitoring and in the aftermath” of the fire that started on Wednesday in the municipality of Arganil and spread to Oliveira do Hospital.

During the night, the flames destroyed areas of bushland and forest, and the fire "was on the verge of reaching the city, but was brought under control," he said, adding that the nighttime humidity and decreased wind helped in the fight.

On Friday, the fire led to the evacuation of some tourist establishments in the municipality, as well as the cancellation of reservations, namely at Ponte das Três Entradas (where the Alvoco and Alva rivers converge), with a four-star hotel unit there “which was full”, as well as another unit in Vila Pouca da Beira, where the flames passed, without causing damage.

Lusa's report on the scene confirmed the destruction caused by the fire in rural and forest land, along five kilometers of road on the banks of the river between Vila Cova de Alva (Arganil) and Avô (Oliveira do Hospital).

At 11:30, according to the website of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, the Arganil fire was being fought by 1,014 operators, supported by 332 vehicles and 17 aerial resources.