At a press briefing at 20.00 hrs Commander Vaz Pinto said that one of the fronts “is dominated”, now leading to “extinction and consolidation actions”.

As for the second front, the “very strong atmospheric instability” that was felt in the middle of the afternoon presented difficulties at one place, which is almost inaccessible even for airplanes and helicopters.

As a precautionary measure, and in order to avoid ‘alarmist situations’, the operational command has decided to withdraw more small settlements that may be in the way of fire, but only’ to safeguard the populations’, ‘long before the fire there. ”

During the night there will be some “windows of opportunity”, which may help the firefighters, now that the day ends, air supplies are withdrawn.” We will re-evaluate the situation at every moment.

At present, the fire is being fought by 684 operational, supported by 176 vehicles, in particular track machines. The helicopters and airplanes that have helped all day have already retired.

Meanwhile the ANPC announced the use of an Air Force C-295 aircraft tonight to be used for reconnaissance. This is to meet the current operational situation, namely the rural fires that burn in the districts of Faro, Santarém, Portalegre and Nisa, and could extend to other risk areas of the continental territory.

The C-295 has imaging equipment that allows rapid detection of any new occurrences, as well as monitoring and the behaviour of rural fires, and is therefore an important means of supporting operational decision making. Aboard the C-295 will be two ANPC operatives