A fire that had been raging in Tojeiro, Monchique since yesterday afternoon (October 1) was finally brought under control at 3.20am this morning, after destroying a “firefighting Land Rover” and threatening dozens of homes.
Despite authorities’ fears, no homes were damaged and only one firefighter was injured.
The Land Rover, the property of Lagoa fire station, was engulfed by flames after accidentally sliding into a ditch. All firemen involved escaped uninjured.
Portimão fire chief Richard Marques said the scene of devastation today is being kept close watch over to ensure flames cannot reignite.
In all, 218 firefighters from the Algarve’s 15 corporations backed by reinforcements from Beja and Lisbon fought the blaze, supported by 75 vehicles including one helicopter and four planes.
Eleven people, “mostly elderly”, were evacuated from their homes as a “precaution” when flames came “dangerously close” to properties.
Authorities have yet to establish the amount of land consumed by the flames.
The injured fireman is understood to have suffered a sprained ankle.
