Rural Fire Murça, Vila Real
Major Incident 17th July 2022
Date Registered: 17-07-2022 16:35
Estado: Active
Local: Cortinhas: Freguesia: Carva E Vilares, Concelho: Murça
Distrito: Vila Real
Incêndio: Bush
Num.Oc. 2022170023026
UPDATE 1628 hrs
UNDER CONCLUSION
Deployed 223 operatives 60 vehicles
UPDATE 1618 Hrs 23rd July 2022
The Murca fire has reactivated at 1553 hrs Deployed 242 personnel supported by 65 vehicles and one helicopter
UPDATE 1730 HRS
The fire is back to Resolution stage with 699 operatives supported by 226 vehicles and 5 aircraft deployed
UPDATE 1700 hrs
According to a source from the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC), at stake are “some re-ignitions in the perimeter of the fire that are being fought” and which led to a reinforcement of means on the ground, namely aerial means.
Deployment 700 operatives 225 vehicles and six aircraft
UPDATE 1530 HRS
Fire threatens the village of Cabanas.
700 operatives supported by 223 vehicles and 7 operatives deployed
The fire that started on Sunday in Cortinhas, in the municipality of Murça, is nearing completion, despite continuing to mobilize the largest number of means in the country, according to Civil Protection.
UPDATE: 1455 hrs
The fire has reactivated and is currently there are 700 operatives supported by 223 vehicles and seven helicopter/fixed wing aircraft deployed.
UPDATE 12.33 HRS
The fire is now at a CONCLUSION Stage.
Deployment 820 operatives supported by 275 vehicles and 10 aircraft.
UPDATE 0700 HRS 21ST JULY 2021
The fire has been brought to a RESOLUTION stage at 01.28 hrs. 617 operatives deployed supported by 213 vehicles.
UPDATE 2200 hrs 20th July 2022
More than a thousand hectares of maritime pine burned in Vila Pouca de Aguiar
The mayor of Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Alberto Machado, estimated today that “more than a thousand hectares of maritime pine” burned in the fire that started in Murça, in the district of Vila Real.
The mayor told Lusa that the damages are not yet quantified and their assessment will be the next phase, after the fire that started in Murça on Sunday and also spread to the municipality of Valpaços has been extinguished in this municipality.
“We still don’t have the quantification of the damages, but they are very large because this area that burned had very significant maritime pine plantations”, he said, confirming that he estimates that “more than a thousand hectares” have been affected.
In this municipality, said the mayor, “small accidents between firefighters, a GNR vehicle that burned, and damage to agricultural support infrastructure” were also recorded.
Fire remains active: Largest fire on mainland at present. 809 operatives deployed and 277 vehicles.
UPDATE 1730 HRS 20TH JULY 2022
In the situation report made at 1300 hrs, the second regional commander of the North, Armando Silva, indicated that the means of combat “decreased about 100 meters ahead” of fire that remains “active”.
At that time, the situation carried out by Civil Protection in the early morning was maintained, with the other fronts in the neighboring municipalities of Valpaços, in Carrezedo de Montenegro, and Vila Pouca de Aguiar “in a situation of aftermath and surveillance to a large extent of the perimeter”.
According to the official, at that time, there were 820 operators from various corporations across the country and 274 vehicles on the ground, “of which seven trailing machines were committed to consolidating critical points”.
Heard by Antena 1, the mayor of Murça, Mário Artur Lopes, predicted difficulties in stopping this fire, due to the wind and difficult access.
Commander Rodrigo Bretelo, from the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority, explains that of the three fronts of this fire, only the Murça front burns.
Deployment 821 operatives supported by 278 vehicles and five aircraft/helicopters
UPDATE 20TH JULY 0900 HRS
Two of the three fronts of the Murça fire – the one that mobilizes, by far, more firefighters and means in the country – are in the consolidation or aftermath phase. But there is still an active front, “from about 500 to 600 meters”, as Armando Silva, the North’s second regional commander, detailed to journalists this morning.
Despite considering the work of yesterday’s firefighters “extremely advantageous” and that the night helped, the commander admits that the weather conditions forecast for today – “a considerable increase in temperature” and “unstable” wind, more than particularly intense – represent an “extra difficulty” for firefighters.
The commander also guaranteed that the village evacuated yesterday “has never been in danger”: the decision, he stressed, was just a “preventive issue to avoid any mishap”.
This fire in Murça has already forced the removal of the homes of 79 people, who were temporarily relocated in a support area, installed in a pavilion in the village.
Deployment 804 operatives supported by 274 vehicles and one aircraft.
UPDATE 2230 HRS
Murça Front is 80% dominated – Civil Protection
The front that works in the Murça fire is 80% dominated, after the reactivation that took place this afternoon, said a source from the Civil Protection, who said that 40 elderly people were removed as a precaution from the Fiolhoso home.
“Right now, we have the Murça area with a front that is already about 80% dominated, then in Vila Pouca de Aguiar we have small outbreaks that are already being fought and practically eradicated and then we have, in Carrazedo de Montenegro (Valpaços), all the situation was also controlled”, said the Regional Commander of Emergency and Civil Protection (COREPC) of the North, Carlos Rodrigues Alves.
Deployment: 788 operatives supported by 272 vehicles.
UPDATE: 1930 HRS
Three villages evacuated in Murça, Valpaços and Vila Pouca de Aguiar
The villages of Fiolhoso, in the municipality of Murça, Cabanas, in Valpaços, and Sevivas, in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, will be evacuated due to the fire raging in the region. The District Command of Relief Operations (CDOS) of Vila Real told Lusa that, “due to the very strong wind that is felt in the region, the fire is approaching the villages”.
However, due to heavy smoke on the slope overlooking Murça, Municipal Road 314, between Murça and Carrazeda de Montenegro, is closed to traffic, Lusa found at the scene.
The fire that started on Sunday in Cortinhas, in Murça, has already consumed between 10 and 12 thousand hectares in the three affected municipalities, estimated the mayor of Murça, Mário Artur Lopes. According to the CDOS website, a1930 hrs 829 operatives were fighting this fire, supported by 280 vehicles and seven air assets.
UPDATE: 1500 HRS
The mayor of Murça, Mário Artur Lopes, estimated today that the fire that started on Sunday in Cortinhas has already consumed between 10,000 and 12,000 hectares in the three affected municipalities.
Mário Artur Lopes pointed to “more than half of the municipality” affected by the fire that had a “very rapid” evolution, pushed by the wind, and spread through the municipalities of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and Valpaços.
Deployment The mayor of Murça, Mário Artur Lopes, estimated today that the fire that started on Sunday in Cortinhas has already consumed between 10,000 and 12,000 hectares in the three affected municipalities.
Mário Artur Lopes pointed to “more than half of the municipality” affected by the fire that had a “very rapid” evolution, pushed by the wind, and spread through the municipalities of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and Valpaços.
UPDATE 1215 HRS:
The commander of the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) said this Tuesday that a “complicated afternoon” is expected in the fight against the fire raging in Murça, in the district of Vila Real.
At a press conference, André Fernandes explained that “weather conditions are not very favourable to fighting the flames, due to the increase in wind and high temperatures”.
“It is expected that the situation could worsen until nightfall”, he indicated in the daily briefing of the Civil Protection. “During the night we will have to take advantage of the weather window to fight the fire
Residents of the fire-hit villages of Murça recalled frightening moments today, when they came together to help save lives, houses and animals from the flames that painted the entire north of the county in black.
“The fire reached dimensions never seen before, with projections everywhere, even inside the village, in some abandoned huts, there were ignitions. It was quite complicated”, said João Teixeira, resident in Mascanho and technical coordinator of the Forestry Association of the Douro Valley North (Aflodounorte).
A reactivation in the area of Valongo de Milhais, in Murça, postponed the return home of the people removed on Monday from the villages of this parish as a precaution due to a large fire.
The information was given to the Lusa agency today by the president of the Valongo de Milhais Board, Renato Santos.
“[The fire] was practically under control and there was now a projection in an area that could complicate things again in the town of Ribeirinha”, said the mayor, who added that there are means positioned at the scene.
Renato Santos explained that the residents of these villages were expected to return home, who stayed overnight in the village of Murça, in the student residence and in the sports hall, but that, in view of this reactivation, this return will have to “delay a little.” .
The mayor described a completely black scenario around the villages, where he said he stayed all night in surveillance and in support of firefighters and GNR.
“I still haven’t had the opportunity to go all the way around the parish”, he pointed out. Renato Santos said he had no knowledge of burned houses, speaking of some annexes or haystacks affected.
Deployment 697 operatives supported by 241 vehicles and 10 aircraft/helicopters
UPDATE: 1115 hrs
Deployment increased to 702 operatives supported by 242 vehicles and 11 aircraft/helicopters.
This includes Bombeiros, Civil Protection Special Forces, GNR, GNR GIPS, Forest Sappers, INEM and Red Cross among others.
UPDATE 10.30 hrs. 19th July 2022
The fire remains active, one of two active fires in the mainland at present. A very complex fire covering a large area, in which two people have died.
The fire that broke out on Sunday in Murça has already forced the evacuation of several villages and is still active, with three active fronts to concern firefighters, who were earlier waiting for the support of air resources.
This has now arrived and there is 12 aircraft/helicopters tackling the fire, as part of the deployment of 641 operatives supported by 219 vehicles. The size of the deployment shows the magnitude of this fire.
19th July 2022 0640 Hrs
The fire has remained Active overnight, with 556 operatives supported by 195 vehicles deployed..
People are being transported to the sports hall in Murça and to the student residence, located in that town in the Vila Real district.
The information was given to journalists by the mayor of Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Alberto Machado, who added that, in his municipality, “there are still active fronts”, predicting, however, that the “situation is under control”.
“The damage is enormous. I came here from the command post of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and I always saw it in a burned area”, he said.
The mayor travelled to Murça, where a Civil Protection command post is installed. To participate in a briefing with mayors and the various forces involved in this occurrence.
“We are talking about an area that already exceeds 3,000 hectares and within that a significant area of maritime pine and chestnut trees”, he said, referring to the joint area of the municipalities of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and Murça.
Albert Machado hopes that during the night there will be “a window of opportunity”, due to the rising humidity and the decreasing temperatures, to “do this control and avoid re-ignitions tomorrow”.
In Vila Pouca de Aguiar, the fire “evolved unfavorably” today, putting the villages of Granja and Ribeirinha at risk.
The evacuation of Ribeirinha was considered, which did not happen.
A different situation happened in Murça, where since this afternoon, according to the mayor of Murça, around 300 people from villages such as Valongo de Milhais, Ribeirinha, Penabeice, Mascanho, Paredes and Vale de Égua were removed.
Map shows burned area.
Statistic and deployment updates https://fogos.pt/fogo/2022170023026/detalhe
Civil Protection fire updates:
UPDATE 10.30 hrs. 19th July 2022
The fire remains active, one of two active fires in the mainland at present. A very complex fire covering a large area, in which two people have died.
The fire that broke out on Sunday in Murça has already forced the evacuation of several villages and is still active, with three active fronts to concern firefighters, who are waiting for the support of air resources.
This has now arrived and there is 12 aircraft/helicopters tackling the fire, as part of the deployment of 641 operatives supported by 219 vehicles. The size of the deployment shows the magnitude of this fire.
19th July 2022 0640 Hrs
The fire has remained Active overnight, with 556 operatives supported by 195 vehicles deployed..
People are being transported to the sports hall in Murça and to the student residence, located in that town in the Vila Real district.
The information was given to journalists by the mayor of Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Alberto Machado, who added that, in his municipality, “there are still active fronts”, predicting, however, that the “situation is under control”.
“The damage is enormous. I came here from the command post of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and I always saw it in a burned area”, he said.
The mayor traveled to Murça, where a Civil Protection command post is installed. To participate in a briefing with mayors and the various forces involved in this occurrence.
“We are talking about an area that already exceeds 3,000 hectares and within that a significant area of maritime pine and chestnut trees”, he said, referring to the joint area of the municipalities of Vila Pouca de Aguiar and Murça.
Albert Machado hopes that during the night there will be “a window of opportunity”, due to the rising humidity and the decreasing temperatures, to “do this control and avoid re-ignitions tomorrow”.
In Vila Pouca de Aguiar, the fire “evolved unfavorably” today, putting the villages of Granja and Ribeirinha at risk.
The evacuation of Ribeirinha was considered, which did not happen.
A different situation happened in Murça, where since this afternoon, according to the mayor of Murça, around 300 people from villages such as Valongo de Milhais, Ribeirinha, Penabeice, Mascanho, Paredes and Vale de Égua were removed.
18th July 2022 UPDATE 2230 hrs
Several reinforcement groups are on their way to the site and a concentration and relief zone has already been created for the displaced populations. Half of the county’s forest area will have already burned.
Fighting the flames is being done with the help of a crawler machine, from the Macedo Fire Department and reinforcements from Braga were sent to the scene, stationed at the Famalicão Logistic Support Base.
The intention is to open a “containment front, with a wide area that allows to stop the evolution of the flames”, explains a source of the command post, in Murça.
On the way, according to the Expresso, there are also means of Setúbal, Évora and Santarém.
In the middle of the afternoon, an elderly couple who were trying to escape the flames lost their way in the vehicle they were following and died in their car..
In addition to Penabeice, the situation is particularly serious in the village of Jou and “some residents have already been evacuated”, says José Costa. A relief and reception area was created at the site for the populations removed from the villages.
It was in this village that a team of firefighters was surrounded by the flames, but the situation was eventually overcome. It is also in this village that the mayor confirms damage to houses. “Houses touched by the flames, broken windows, but we still don’t have any record that they burned down”, adds the mayor. There are, however, losses in agriculture, sheds and burned agricultural implements. And evacuations “in progress”, says the mayor.
The fire unfolds in an area of “dense vegetation, with a lot of straw, fanned by the west wind that causes projections and spreads the fire”, reveal the firefighters at the front. “It is very difficult to put the assets in an attack position, due to the wind”, explain several operatives. Compounding the situation is the dispersion of resources, “placed in order to protect the houses”, comments José Costa.
Total deployment is 282 operatives and 104 vehicles.
UPDATE: 1815 hrs
Deployment: 231 operatives supported by 74 vehicles and six aircraft/helicopters.
The village of Penabeice, in Murça, is completely surrounded by flames and Banho is also at risk. Two hundred firefighters and four air assets are fighting the fire in the area.
The fire is consuming bush and pine forest and threatens houses. The wind is blowing hard, smoke and dust make breathing difficult.
An emergency medical vehicle was called and is on its way to the scene, as several people felt unwell in the locality.
UPDATE: 1720 hrs
The fires in Murça are getting worse and the authorities have decided to evacuate the village of Mascanho due to the advance of the fire “which is out of control”.
UPDATE 1300 hrs
The fire in Murça and Vila Pouca de Aguiar, district of Vila Real, began this Monday morning to be fought by five aerial means, “it does not threaten houses, but it will have very high emotional and material damages”, said the mayor of Murça.
Speaking to the Lusa agency, the mayor of Murça indicated that, “at the moment, there are no populations at risk”, but said that there are already “dramatic situations related to animals and agricultural production”.
Deployment: 213 operatives supported by 68 vehicles and two operatives.
UPDATE 11:00
The wind is making it difficult to fight the flames in Murça.
Civil Protection data indicate 181 operatives, accompanied by 58 vehicles and three air assets.
The mayor of Murça said that, “at this moment, there are no populations at risk”.
UPDATE 0900 HRS
The fire starting in Murca has spread to the municipality of Vila Pouca de Aguiar , where it presents a front of several kilometres, threatening several agricultural facilities and, by proximity, the villages of Reboredo and Vales, reads on the municipality’s Facebook page .
The fire in Murça has an active front and mines in an area with no access
The second district commander of relief operations in Vila Real, Artur Mota, in a situation report made to the Lusa agency this morning, said that the fire, which affects both municipalities, is still active.
“For now, the villages are out of danger, but the fire has about 12 to 15 kilometres ahead that is active because it has no access, it is burning towards the river [Tinhela]. river, in Vila Pouca de Aguiar and in Murça”, stated Artur Mota.
The fire breaks out in an area of “essentially bush”, but it has also reached pine forests.
The information added that reinforcements were requested from the District Commander of Relief Operations of Vila Real, since “the only [firefighters] present are from the Vila Pouca de Aguiar corporation”, with Miguel Fonseca mentioned, in a contact with the mayor of the municipality, that “there would be teams on the move” to the county.
Miguel Fonseca told Lusa that Murça and Vila Pouca de Aguiar are contiguous fires, which is “very worrying, because a large area of forest, adult pine forest, and some bush is burning”, with “a huge violence of meteorological conditions”, particularly wind”.
According to him, resources are being reinforced in Murça and Vila Pouca de Aguiar , at a regional and national level, but he admitted that “it takes time, due to the large-scale occurrences that are absorbing many resources”.
UPDATE 2200 HRS 17TH JULY 2022
The fire that started this afternoon in the council of Murça and advanced to the Council of Vila Pouca de Aguiar already has a front of several kilometres, threatening several agricultural facilities and, in proximity, the villages of Reboredo and Vales.
As far as firefighters are concerned, the only presents are from the Vila Pouca de Aguiar corporation, with commander Hugo Silva requesting reinforcements. ATM Speaker Prof. Alberto Machado, who is also present, just spoke by phone with the 1st CODIS Miguel Fonseca, reinforcing the concern of the Aguiarens Fire Brigade Commander, having been told by the district commander that there would be teams on the move Off to Vila Pouca de Aguiar.
Will make new status updates as soon as possible