The commander of the Vila Pouca de Aguiar fire department, Hugo Silva, told Lusa at 3.30 pm that the fire was still out of control and "burning with great intensity" and with "three active fronts" in areas of pine forest and bush. He added that the village of Reboredo is in the line of fire but is not at risk yet.

Besides the weather conditions on the ground, such as the wind and heat, and the drought, the commander said that the "major problem" was the "difficult access".

According to the website of the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (ANEPC), by 4:00 pm the fire had mobilised 387 firefighters, 116 vehicles and eight aircrafts.

"We are rethinking night strategies to see if we can contain the advance of the fire," Hugo Silva said.

The alert for the fire was given at 17:14 on Wednesday and, in a short time, there was a large mobilisation of means for this occurrence that had a very quick progression in the forest area.

At the end of Wednesday afternoon, the fire approached the village of Filhagosa, without causing damages, having been fought by the firefighters, citizens and planes.

This is the second big fire in a week, in this council. The fire that broke out on 17 July, in Cortinhas, Murça, spread to Vila Pouca de Aguiar and burned a vast area of pine forest, as well as chestnut groves and pastures.