In an assessment given to Lusa around 7:30 am, Pedro Araújo said that the most significant fires this morning were in Ponte da Barca (Viana do Castelo) and Penafiel (Porto), while the fires in Arouca (Aveiro) and Paredes (Porto) are either under control or in the process of being extinguished.

Regarding the situation in Ponte da Barca, the source explained that the fire had two active fronts in forested and scrubland areas, but firefighters were establishing a defensive perimeter to protect the villages of Paradela and Sobredo.

One of the fire fronts is heading toward those two locations, but they are not in danger, he said.

According to ANEPC, this fire, which has been burning since Sunday, had mobilized, as of 7:30 a.m., 658 firefighters supported by 227 ground vehicles.

Regarding the Penafiel fire, two active fronts also remain, "one of them near homes, but neither is at immediate risk." There were 230 firefighters and 67 vehicles on the ground.

Of the total number of fires recorded on the mainland, ANEPC currently has 2,589 firefighters fighting the flames, supported by 949 vehicles and an aerial vehicle, which is monitoring the fires day and night, specifically collecting images with thermal cameras to help define strategies.

On Thursday, the firefighting caused about 30 minor injuries, most of them Civil Protection personnel, with cases of poisoning, sprains, and falls with bruises, the same source said.

In Ponte da Barca, 21 people, including two civilians, were treated at the scene or at the hospital. In Arouca, there were eight minor injuries, all from Civil Protection, and in Penafiel, three firefighters were transported to the hospital.