Wildfire in Aljustrel tackled by 90 firefighters, seven aircraft

Nearly 90 personnel, supported by seven aerial resources, are this afternoon battling a fire in an agricultural area in the municipality of Aljustrel, Beja district.

A source from the Baixo Alentejo Sub-Regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command told the Lusa news agency that the fire, which broke out just after 2pm, was consuming “an area of pasture and scrubland” near the locality of Corte Vicente Anes.

The same source added that no homes or people appear to be at risk.

As of 4pm, firefighting efforts involved a total of 87 personnel from several fire departments, supported by 26 vehicles and seven aircraft. Further firefighters have since joined the effort, with a section of the EN2 road closed to traffic, because of its proximity to the flames.

Elsewhere in the Beja district, a wildfire in a rural area of the municipality of Moura was “in the dampening down phase.” Civil Protection said 27 personnel, supported by eight vehicles, remain on the scene.

Today is a day when authorities will be hoping for as few outbreaks of rural fires as possible, due to the strong winds battering southern areas.

Source: LUSA

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.