Portugal wildfires close highways, mobilize hundreds of firefighters
A wildfire that broke out in Rochoso, in the Guarda district, on Monday at 13:51 forced the closure of the A25 and EN16 highways between the Guarda junction and Alto do Leomil, and between Amoreira (Almeida) and Pínzio (Pinhel). The Sub‑regional Emergency and Civil Protection Command of Beiras and Serra da Estrela deployed five aircraft, 390 personnel and 118 vehicles, and five firefighters suffered minor injuries.
Alternative routes were advised: the N221 for the A25 and a road linking Parada (Almeida) to Rochoso and Guarda for the EN16. The fire continues to affect the borders of Guarda, Almeida and Sabugal municipalities.
Other fires are active across Portugal. A map of incidents highlighted the Guarda blaze as the largest effort, with more than 600 firefighters on site. In Valpaços, an Ervões fire started around 15:00 and is being tackled by 157 operatives, 39 ground vehicles and 11 aerial units. Strong winds are driving the flames, but no villages are currently threatened.
Entities: A25 highway · Artur Mota · EN16 highway · EN16 road · Rochoso (Guarda District) · Rochoso, Guarda (Portugal) · Valpaços (Ervões)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] New fire foci appeared at a restaurant in Tornado and in Foz do Arelho during the same incident. (7bc9dd7a-8798-44b9-8a50-ba1c71ef50b1)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The government ordered that when few fires exist, they must be attacked maximally to extinguish quickly. (6d85ed74-b91f-4a3e-b561-67fbc76f205a)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Mayor Daniela Capelo reported strong wind, low humidity, and no evacuations in Pínzio. (6d85ed74-b91f-4a3e-b561-67fbc76f205a)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Caldas da Rainha fire threatened houses and required firefighters from Bombarral, Peniche, Benedita and aerial units. (7bc9dd7a-8798-44b9-8a50-ba1c71ef50b1)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Mayor Sérgio Costa said hundreds of personnel and aerial units were deployed but the fire continued uncontrolled. (6d85ed74-b91f-4a3e-b561-67fbc76f205a)
- [● 2 SOURCES] At 19:00 the fire in the Guarda district had three active fronts near Castanheira and Rabaça (Guarda), Pínzio (Pinhel) and Cabreira (Almeida). (6d85ed74-b91f-4a3e-b561-67fbc76f205a)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A wildfire started near Casal Novo, Nadadouro, Caldas da Rainha on 28 July 2026. (7bc9dd7a-8798-44b9-8a50-ba1c71ef50b1)
- [● 2 SOURCES] A separate wildfire started in the municipality of Guarda and spread to Almeida, Pinhel and Sabugal. (6d85ed74-b91f-4a3e-b561-67fbc76f205a)