Firefighters contain Aljustrel wildfire to 80%; two injured, roads reopened
A wildfire that broke out Saturday afternoon near Corte Vicente Anes in Aljustrel, Portugal, was 80% contained by early evening after consuming pasture and forest, forcing the closure of the EN2 national road and several municipal routes.
Fire breaks out in Aljustrel
A rural fire broke out on Saturday afternoon near Corte Vicente Anes, a locality in the municipality of Aljustrel in Portugal's Beja district. The alert was given at 14:04, and the fire quickly consumed pasture, scrubland, and trees including holm oaks and cork oaks. By 19:20, the fire was 80 percent contained, according to José Horta, second commander of the Sub-regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command of Baixo Alentejo.
But we will still have a lot of work in the coming hours.
The operation was scaled up rapidly. At 15:55, 87 operatives and 26 vehicles were on site, supported by seven aircraft. By 18:30, the numbers had risen to 114 operatives and 43 vehicles, though only three aircraft remained active after four had exhausted their fuel autonomy. The municipality of Aljustrel issued a public appeal through its Facebook page.
We appeal to the population to maintain serenity and calm.
Road closures and reopening
The intensity of the smoke and the proximity of the flames led the GNR to close the EN2 between Aljustrel and Ervidel from about 16:00. The EM527 linking Corte Vicente Anes and São João de Negrilhos was also closed, along with a local road between Ervidel and São João de Negrilhos. All three roads were reopened to traffic at around 18:00, after conditions improved.
The municipality of Moura, also in the Beja district, reported a separate rural fire that was in the mop-up phase, involving 27 operatives and eight vehicles.
Casualties and damage
Two firefighters were injured during the operation: one with exhaustion and smoke inhalation, and another with a twisted ankle. One was treated at the scene, and the other was transported to Hospital José Joaquim Fernandes in Beja. No dwellings were at risk, and no damage to property or civilians was recorded.
Response timeline
The fire occurred on a day of high temperatures and elevated rural fire danger across the Beja district, prompting authorities to reinforce warnings and rapidly deploy ground and air resources.
- Alert for wildfire near Corte Vicente Anes
- 87 operatives, 26 vehicles and 7 aircraft deployed
- EN2 and EM527 closed to traffic due to smoke and flames
- 110 operatives, 35 vehicles and 7 aircraft on scene
- 109 operatives, 41 vehicles; 3 aircraft remain after 4 run out of autonomy
- All previously closed roads reopened
- 114 operatives and 43 vehicles; 3 aircraft active
- Fire 80% contained, according to civil protection
