"In Piódão, a perimeter was set up, prompting the evacuation of the elderly residents."
The wildfire that broke out in Arganil's Piódão parish on August 13, 2025, continues to rage on, becoming the largest ever recorded in Portugal with an estimated burned area of around 60,000 hectares. The fire has spread beyond Arganil to neighbouring districts such as Covilhã and Fundão, posing a high risk due to its rapid spread.
The firefighting effort involves a substantial mobilization of resources, with over 2,200 personnel, 744 vehicles, and 23 aircraft engaged. This makes it the incident with the most personnel involved currently in Portugal. Earlier reports indicated 625 firefighters were combating the flames supported by 189 vehicles and 7 aircraft on August 14.
José da Conceição Lopes, the president of the Piódão parish council in Arganil, described the events that occurred. He stated that there are inaccessible areas in the region, making the firefighting efforts even more challenging. The village of Arganil was surrounded by flames, and elderly residents were evacuated to prevent harm.
The late arrival of aircraft support and the shifting wind direction have critically impacted the firefighting response. The initial absence or delay of aerial firefighting planes reduced the ability to contain the fire early on, allowing it to grow rapidly. Wind direction changes have complicated efforts by spreading the fire unpredictably, increasing its speed and making containment more difficult.
The wind in the area is particularly strong, sometimes making drops less accurate during firefighting efforts. The president of the Piódão parish council, José da Conceição Lopes, is trying to protect houses, belongings, and people from the encroaching flames.
It is believed that a dry thunderstorm may have started the fire in Arganil. Despite the ongoing efforts, the fire in Arganil remains active, and alerts have been issued to the local population. The combination of factors, including the cause, late air support, and the effect of wind, has led to a challenging, ongoing emergency.
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