Tears and Cleanup in Alvão Mountain Villages After Devastating Wildfire

Tears and Cleanup in Alvão Mountain Villages After Devastating Wildfire

The villages of Relva and Muas in the Alvão mountain range, Vila Real, are facing a day of cleanup and tears following a wildfire that ravaged the area over the past few days. The fire reached the villages, destroying barns, animal shelters, vacant houses, pastures, and forests.

"It was hell," described Iracema Dinis, a resident of Relva, a village on the slope of Alvão mountain facing Vila Real city. The fire had been burning at the top of the mountain for almost a week before descending on Sunday afternoon, driven by strong winds, affecting several villages and the Alvão Natural Park (PNA).

"My children and husband were constantly wetting the area, and our luck was that the water didn't run out," shared Iracema Dinis. The fire burned her mother's storage, which also housed a cow, but the houses were saved. "It was all very fast, but the wind was so strong, and the noise was impressive. Today is a day of cleanup and tears because now we see this sadness," she added.

Photo: Pedro Sarmento Costa/Lusa

So far, it's known that the flames hit two vacant houses in Relva and burned barns, animal shelters, and annexes. Manuela Souto, an emigrant in Switzerland on vacation in Relva, described Sunday as "a horror movie." "We saw the fire in the forest, and 10 minutes later, it was here," she said, criticizing the lack of protection from helicopters and planes.

Many residents were advised to leave their homes, with the elderly being evacuated. "It looked like a hurricane, not a fire," described one resident. Teresa Gaspar, who had faced similar fears in 2017 and 2022, found her backyard trees burned this time. Francisco Gonçalves, a cattle and beekeeping farmer, is now worried about feeding his animals after losing most of his pasture.

Photo: Pedro Sarmento Costa/Lusa

Lúcia Simões, an emigrant on vacation in Muas, was caught off guard by the flames while watching a cycling event. "It was very scary," she said, relieved that only a barn was burned. Teresa Silva, who owns two Maronesa cows, is now struggling to find pasture for her animals.

The small village of Muas, revitalized by Eduardo Carvalho's rural tourism business, faced cancellations but is determined to recover. Carvalho criticized the Nature Conservation Institute (ICNF) for bureaucratic hurdles in fire prevention efforts.

Fire Under Control

The fire, which started on August 2 in Sirarelhos, was declared under control early Monday morning. By 11:30 AM, 363 operatives, 116 vehicles, and two aerial means were still mobilized to ensure the fire's resolution.