The Portuguese firefighters are currently fighting wildfires in several regions of the country. A total of around 2,700 firefighters with over 1,000 vehicles are involved in the operation [1].
The centre and north of the country are the worst affected. The situation is particularly tense in the centre of the district of Arouca, where efforts are concentrated on a eucalyptus forest. At one point, around 750 firefighters were deployed there and the nearby village of Fornos de Carvão was evacuated due to its proximity to the flames [3]. In the north, the region near the town of Ponte da Barca is particularly affected, where the fire can spread quickly in the mountainous region with strong winds. Almost 2,000 hectares of land have already been destroyed there, and firefighting efforts are being supported from Spain [1].
According to the Institute for the Sea and the Atmosphere, a yellow heat warning, which refers to high temperatures, is in effect for all districts of mainland Portugal, with the exception of Faro, until at least Thursday. Maximum temperatures between 30°C and 40°C are expected in many places [3]. In addition, the entire country is currently at increased or maximum risk of forest fires [2].
[1] Waldbrände: Feuerwehr kämpft gegen Waldbrände in mehreren portugiesischen Regionen | DIE ZEIT (accessed on 30.07.2025)
[2] Portugal: Waldbrände wüten im Zentrum und im Norden Portugals – DER SPIEGEL (accessed on 30.07.2025)
[3] Portugal: Mehr als 1.000 Einsatzkräfte kämpfen gegen die Waldbrände | Euronews (accessed on 30.07.2025)