Vouzela wildfire burns over 13,000 hectares, now under control

A wildfire ignited at 03:04 UTC on Thursday in Tourelhe, a parish of Vouzela (district of Viseu), and quickly spread to the neighboring municipalities of Oliveira de Frades, Tondela and Águeda. By early Sunday the fire had consumed about 13,000 hectares – roughly half of the area burned in Portugal in 2026 – making it the largest blaze in Europe this year.

The fire was declared dominated at 12:40 on Sunday, but officials warned that numerous hot spots could cause re‑ignitions. Around 1,200‑1,800 firefighters, supported by 380‑400 vehicles and five to eleven aerial units, remained on the ground for consolidation and surveillance. Two severe injuries were reported: a 55‑year‑old man suffered second‑ and third‑degree burns while attempting to fight the flames, and a 34‑year‑old man incurred a serious head injury after falling from a water‑supply truck. Three minor injuries involved two volunteer firefighters and a civilian.

The blaze also destroyed a wood‑components factory that produced biomass for energy. Vouzela’s mayor, Carlos Oliveira, expressed relief at the progress, while volunteer fire commander Francisco Lima stressed the need to monitor “many hot points” along the extensive perimeter.