More than 2,000 emergency personnel and approximately 20 aircraft remain deployed across Portugal this Tuesday as teams work to control several rural fires that have emerged in recent days. According to the Civil Protection website, three major incidents are currently receiving significant attention.
The most pressing situation is in Torre de Moncorvo, located in the northeastern district of Bragança. This fire, which began on Saturday, has already consumed over 2,000 hectares. By mid-afternoon, more than 400 personnel, supported by over 140 vehicles and four aircraft, were on the scene. Local mayor José Meneses indicated that authorities hope to bring the blaze under control shortly to transition into a mop-up phase, noting that the fire still had one active front earlier in the day.
Firefighters are also struggling to contain a blaze in Arouca, within the northern coastal district of Aveiro, which started Monday night. As of 16:00, over 300 firefighters, roughly 100 vehicles, and two aircraft were operating in the area. This fire, currently burning through scrubland, presented four active fronts on Tuesday morning, prompting Civil Protection to implement preventive safety measures to protect local homes and residents.
In the Porto Metropolitan Area, specifically in Santo Tirso, approximately 200 personnel are battling a fire that began late Monday afternoon. This incident has already burned through more than 900 hectares and is currently being fought with the support of over 60 vehicles and one aircraft.
These operations are taking place against a backdrop of persistent hot and dry weather. The Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere has issued orange warnings for nine districts until 18:00 on Tuesday, while most of the remaining mainland—excluding Lisbon, Setúbal, and Faro—is under a yellow warning. The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection has warned of temperatures exceeding 40°C in several regions, combined with low humidity, creating a very high to maximum risk of rural fire in the northern and central inland areas.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who held a meeting regarding the situation on Tuesday, cautioned that the country faces "weeks of heightened complexity." He emphasized that the nation is currently at high risk and urged a collective duty of care. While describing 2026 as a difficult year for forest fires, the Prime Minister stated that the current operational response is the "largest ever" and noted that the total burnt area this year is roughly four times lower than in 2025. He also publicly praised Minister for Internal Administration Luís Neves for his coordination of the response efforts.
