Arganil's fire threatens to advance toward Pampilhosa da Serra
The fire that broke out in Piôães parish, Arganil municipality, is still causing concern for local authorities. The blaze, which has been boosted by strong winds and the abrupt slopes of the Açor mountain range, continues to burn in some locations, with the forest still ablaze.
Despite efforts to control the fire, it remains active on one of the slopes towards the village of Barroja. The flames are evolving in an ascending direction, and the mayor of Arganil, Luís Paulo Costa, has warned that there is still a lot of active fire within the municipality.
The fire has several active fronts, with one front currently being closely monitored by firefighting teams on the southwest side of Arganil municipality, specifically on one of the slopes of Piôães parish advancing towards the village of Barroja. Conditions such as terrain, wind direction, and vegetation type are influencing the fire's behavior, and vigilance is required due to the challenging terrain and possibility of spot fires.
The situation in Sobral Magro, Sobral Gordo, and Soito da Ruiva, locations in Piôães parish where the flames were nearby, is now under control by firefighters, although the forest around them continues to burn. Meanwhile, the villages of Agroal and the parish seat, Piôães, are still far from the flames.
Elsewhere in the municipality, another worrying situation for the mayor is a front that passed through Vale do Torno, Porto Silvado (in Arganil) and Gramaca (in Oliveira do Hospital), without causing victims or damage to dwellings.
The number of people in the village of Barroja increases during the summer season, with around ten people expected to be in the village during the summer months. The village has two permanent residents of foreign nationality.
In a positive development, the fire fronts in Arganil municipality have been advancing north and northwest, with one front advancing towards Oliveira do Hospital and another towards Seia, in the district of Guarda. However, predictions suggest that if weather conditions remain stable and no sudden wind shifts occur, the fire's advance will slow down over the next 24-48 hours, allowing containment lines to hold.
For precise, up-to-the-minute details, local civil protection authorities or fire management agencies provide the most accurate situational reports. As of the latest updates, the fire remains active on that slope but containment efforts have been underway to prevent further spread toward Barroja. Given the current meteorological forecast—wind patterns and humidity levels—the potential for the fire to advance into Barroja exists, but it is deemed moderate if firefighting efforts continue effectively.
At 22:50, the Arganil fire is being fought by 854 operatives, supported by 273 vehicles. A new front opened today towards Porto Castanheiro, near the Arganil junction of the Portugal Rally. One of the active fronts could potentially evolve southwest towards Pampilhosa da Serra.
The firefighting teams are working tirelessly to control the fire and protect the local community, and the public is being urged to stay informed and follow any advice or instructions from local authorities.
What's the weather prediction for the area affected by the fire in Arganil municipality, considering the fire's potential advance towards Barroja?Is environmental-science needed to understand how factors like terrain, wind direction, and vegetation type influence the behavior of the wildfire in the Açor mountain range?
