Woman, 79, dies after being caught by flames in Penela farm fire

What happened

A farm fire at Venda das Figueiras, in the south of Penela municipality in Coimbra district, central Portugal, killed a 79-year-old woman on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. According to the GNR's Coimbra territorial command, she was caught by the flames while trying to 'extinguish a fire that got out of control', and she was found in the burned area. The regional emergency and civil protection command recorded the alert for the fire at 10:16.

Emergency response

Emergency services sent an INEM emergency medical vehicle, an immediate life support ambulance and a helicopter to the scene, along with the Penela Volunteer Firefighters and the GNR. An earlier report, published before the death was confirmed, described a woman of about 75 with serious burns, who was assisted on site and for whom the INEM helicopter from the Centre was mobilised. The later reports replaced that description with the 79-year-old woman's death.

Current status

The regional command described the fire as being in its resolution phase. Four vehicles and 14 operatives were deployed at the operations area, with firefighters, INEM crews and the INEM helicopter from the Centre among the resources.