In this grab taken from video on Saturday, July 20, 2019 provided by TVI, members of the emergency services try to extinguish wildfires, in Vila de Rei, Portugal. Portuguese authorities say 1,000 firefighters are working to contain wildfires that have injured eight firefighters and one civilian. Portugal’s Civil Protection Agency says Sunday that firefighters are combating flames that broke out Saturday across three fronts in the district of Castelo Branco, 200 kilometers (124 miles) northeast of Lisbon, the capital. This is the first major wildfire in Portugal this year. (TVI via AP)
Portuguese authorities say 1,000 firefighters are working to contain wildfires that have injured eight firefighters and one civilian. Portugal’s Civil Protection Agency says Sunday that firefighters are combating flames that broke out Saturday across three fronts in the district of Castelo Branco, 200 kilometers (124 miles) northeast of Lisbon, the capital.
Authorities say the injured civilian has been evacuated to a hospital and that firefighters are being supported by 10 firefighting aircraft and hundreds of vehicles. This is the first major wildfire in Portugal this year. In recent years, the country has witnessed some of its deadliest fires on record, with 106 people killed in 2017. That year’s death toll prompted the Portuguese government to back stronger firefighting prevention measures, leading to no wildfire deaths in 2018.
Source: Associated Press