Expresses deep sympathies: Republic's president over the demise of prior Guarda mayor
Former Mayor of Vila Franca do Deão Dies While Fighting Forest Fire
In a tragic turn of events, Carlos Dâmaso, the former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, a town in the municipality of Guarda, Portugal, lost his life while actively helping to fight a large, uncontrollable forest fire in his parish during a severe wildfire outbreak in August 2025.
Dâmaso's body was found after he had been reported missing while battling the blaze. The forest fire in Vila Franca do Deão is part of the larger forest fires currently ravaging continental Portugal.
The wildfires occurred amid extreme heatwave conditions affecting Portugal and southern Europe, leading to widespread deployment of thousands of firefighters and requests for assistance from the EU civil protection mechanism. Despite this increased firefighting effort, Dâmaso was overcome and died fighting the fire front in his local area, highlighting the severe and dangerous nature of these wildfires.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the President of the Republic, expressed his condolences for Dâmaso's death. He directed his condolences to the president of the Municipal Chamber of Guarda, Sérgio Costa, and asked Costa to pass his condolences on to Dâmaso's family.
The President of the Guarda Chamber of Commerce made the announcement about Dâmaso's body. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa will remain at the Belém Palace in Lisbon for the coming days to monitor the serious situation of the rural fires.
It was announced that Dâmaso was running for the position of president of the Vila Franca do Deão parish council in the upcoming local elections. Unfortunately, his life was cut short before he could take up this new role.
The forest fire in Vila Franca do Deão was the cause of Dâmaso's death. The fires in Portugal have resulted in the first fatality, with Dâmaso being the first casualty of the forest fires in continental Portugal. The President's condolences were expressed on Friday.
The forest fires in Portugal have caused Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa to interrupt his vacation in the Algarve. The rural fires in Portugal are currently a serious situation, and the country is doing everything it can to combat the blazes. Our thoughts are with Dâmaso's family and the people of Vila Franca do Deão during this difficult time.
- The tragic death of Carlos Dâmaso, the former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, has become a significant general-news story, as he lost his life while battling the forest fires ravaging continental Portugal in August 2025.
- This unfortunate incident highlights the urgent need for competent political leadership to address the ongoing forest fire crisis in Portugal, with Dâmaso's potential presidency of the Vila Franca do Deão parish council left unfulfilled due to the fires.
