Barcelona – Portugal – August 14, 2025 –
Portugal is battling a worsening wildfire crisis as three large blazes continue to burn, with a massive fire in the central region near the town of Trancoso proving to be the most serious. The inferno, which has been active for several days, has scorched thousands of hectares of land, injured at least 17 people, and stretched the country’s firefighting resources to their absolute limit.
The fire near Trancoso, in the intermunicipal community of Beiras e Serra da Estrela, has been burning since August 9 and is the largest of several active blazes in the country. The European Forest Fire Information System (JRC EFFIS) has reported that over 5,150 hectares of land have been consumed by the Trancoso blaze alone. The fire took a turn for the worse after a lightning strike reignited an area that was previously believed to be safe, causing the flames to spread rapidly and reach homes in at least two villages, forcing residents to flee with their livestock.
More than 1,000 firefighters from a total of 2,000 personnel deployed across the country are focused on the northern Beiras and Serra da Estrela regions. They are supported by over 660 fire engines and a significant number of aerial assets, but the sheer scale and intensity of the fires are overwhelming. The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) has been leading the massive and complex operation, which has been hampered by extreme weather conditions.
The wildfires are being fueled by a severe heatwave that has gripped the country, with temperatures expected to soar above 40°C in some areas. High winds are also a major factor, making it incredibly difficult for ground crews to contain the flames and for aerial vehicles to operate effectively. In addition to the Trancoso blaze, other significant fires are burning in areas such as Covilhã and Sobral de São Miguel, with another active fire in the Vila Real district that has been burning for nearly two weeks.
The ongoing fire crisis is a grim reminder of Portugal’s vulnerability to wildfires, a problem that has been exacerbated by climate change and prolonged drought. This year has already seen a significant increase in fire activity, with forest fires having consumed nearly 42,000 hectares of land, eight times more than the same period last year, making it the worst fire season since 2022. The human toll is also mounting, with a report from the Portuguese Firefighters League indicating that at least 17 people have been injured while on duty so far this year.
In response to the deteriorating situation, the government has extended a national alert status, which was initially declared in early August. The measure allows for the deployment of additional resources and extraordinary protection and prevention measures to be put in place. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service has been activated in rapid mapping mode to provide fire delineation and monitoring for the affected areas.
As the fires continue to burn, the focus remains on the safety of the public and the brave men and women on the front lines. Authorities are pleading with the public to exercise extreme caution and to report any suspicious activity. With the fire danger forecast to remain high to very extreme across the east of Portugal in the coming days, the country’s struggle to contain the devastating blazes is far from over.
