According to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) website, at 10:40 am there were 304 operational personnel, 92 vehicles and 10 air assets tackling the blaze.

A source from the Municipal Civil Protection of Vila Pouca de Aguiar said that the fire had “several active fronts” and was progressing towards the areas of the villages of Cidadelha de Jales and Campo de Jales.

The fire, he added, “gained intensity during the morning” and “fighting it is difficult because the areas are difficult to access and are hilly”.

On the ground, “work is being carried out with the support of a crawler machine to make fire breaks to contain the fire”.

The alert for the fire was given at 17:14 on 27 July and progressed very rapidly.