(From left to right) Sónia Cláudia Melo, Paulo Jorge Santos and Susana Cristina Carvalho are the three volunteer firefighters from Vila Nova de Oliveirinha, Tábua, who sacrificed their lives. (Photo from Rádio Boa Nova)
Portugal declared Friday, September 20, as a day of mourning for the seven, including four firefighters, who lost their lives due to the fires which have been raging since Sunday. My neighboring municipality, Tábua, in Coimbra District, also declared three days of mourning for the death of three volunteer firefighters.
In the country thus far, 118 people have suffered injuries, 10 of a serious nature, reported SIC Notícias (September 19). More than 75,000 hectares have burned, and some people have lost their homes and businesses.
On Thursday, September 19, about 2,000 firefighters, 603 vehicles and 22 planes and helicopters were still fighting nine significant fires in the Central and North regions, including one that broke out on Monday night in Soutelo, Castro Daire, in Viseu District reported
Expresso (September 19).
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Margarida Blasco, expressed her "deep and heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims", and she thanked the firefighters who continue to fight the fires as well as Portugal's European partners, Morocco and the local presidents of parishes.
Solidarity of Countries, Localities
Portugal has been helped by 230 members of Spain's Military Emergency Unit and two amphibious Canadair planes from Morocco, reported SIC Notícias (September 18). Two Spanish planes were joined by four more aircraft from France and Italy. Pledged resources from Greece were having difficulty arriving due to adverse weather conditions.
Even Ukraine, in the midst of its war to protect its sovereignty, has offered Portugal a fire-fighting plane along with a team to support the fight against the flames. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that President Volodymyr Zelensky made the decision as a show of solidarity with his friend, Portugal, reported Expresso (September 19).
It is the solidarity of the international community as well as the local community of firefighters, homeowners and neighbors, which gives Portugal and other European countries the physical, mental and spiritual strength to conquer fires.
I live in central Portugal in the foothills of the Serra da Estrela. Every year promises the worry of fire.
I was in the horrific Great Fire of October 2017 but, fortunately, suffered only the loss of a few olive trees and my equilibrium. Two years ago, many fires licked at the edges of my safety. On Monday night, the fire from Nelas and Carregal do Sal came teasingly close. Orange flames, about seven kilometers away, lit up my darkened bedroom while the howling wind fanned them. Again, the fire eluded me.
Sadly, the three volunteer firefighters in Tábua, my neighboring municipality, were not so fortunate as they made their way to that same fire in Vila do Mato.
Tábua Mourns
Tábua Municipality's mourning of the firefighters began on Wednesday, September 18, when the municipality's flag was flown at half-mast on municipal buildings, reported Rádio Boa Nova (September 17).re
Tábua President Ricardo Cruz highlighted "in this hour of pain, the extraordinary example of selflessness, dedication and commitment that these soldiers of peace gave to the cause of firefighters and the protection of their fellow citizens."
The team of three firefighters from Vila Nova de Oliveirinha died on the way to a fire in Vila do Mato, parish of Midões, when the vehicle caught fire, reported CNN (September 17). They must have been surprised by a fire-front, said André Fernandes, commander of the National Authority of Emergency and Civil Protection, who offered "heartfelt condolences" to the fire department of Vila Nova de Oliveirinha. The circumstances of the accident are under investigation.
The firefighters who died were Sónia Cláudia Melo, 36, also a nurse at the Aurélio Amaro Diniz Foundation Hospital, in Oliveira do Hospital; Paulo Jorge Santos, 38, brother of the
commander of the Vila Nova de Oliveirinha corporation and brother-in-law of Sónia Cláudia Melo,, and Susana Cristina Carvalho, 44, who is survived by her 17-year-old son, according to the Civil Protection's note of condolence, according to Público (September 18).
On Wednesday, September 18, Tábua President Ricardo Cruz announced that he will propose awarding the medal of merit and altruism to the three firefighters.
The funeral of the three firefighters will take place on Saturday, September 21, at 4 p.m., reported Rádio Boa Nova (September 19). The bodies will arrive on Friday at the firefighters' barracks, where they will lie in state in the main hall until 12 p.m. Saturday, said Vítor Melo, president of the Vila Nova de Oliveirinha Firefighters' Humanitarian Association.
The Bishop of Coimbra, Virgílio Antunes, is scheduled to say Mass at the barracks. Cardinal Américo Aguiar, national chaplain of the Portuguese Firefighters League is expected to be in attendance.
The three firefighters will then be buried in the Vila Nova de Oliveirinha cemetery.
The fourth fatal firefighter victim was João Manuel dos Santos Silva, 60, who suffered a cardiac arrest during a break from fighting the fire in the parish of Pinheiro da Bemposta, Oliveira de Azeméis Municipality on Sunday, September 15, reported Público (September 18). He had been a member of the São Mamede de Infesta volunteer fire brigade since 1974, when he was only 10 years old, reported SIC Notícias (September 18).
His funeral was held on Wednesday. The ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Margarida Blasco.
Three Civilian Victims
There have been three civilian fatal victims, reported Público (September 18).
Carlos Eduardo, a 28-year-old Brazilian immigrant, was burned to death in the Alberfaria-a-Velha, Aveiro District, fire on Monday, September 16, while trying to save equipment for the company of his employment. Born in Recife, Carlos moved to Portugal five years ago. He was the father of a young daughter and the youngest of 16 siblings, according to reported Público.
An 83-year-old woman died from cardiorespiratory arrest on Monday night in the village of Almeidinha, Mangualde Municipality, after seeing the flames approaching her house. Her identity has not been revealed publicly.
An unidentified 88-year-old man lost his life in Fontão, in the parish of Angeja, Albergaria-a-Velha, in Aveiro District. He is survived by three children and several grandchildren. His death was announced on Monday.
Changes in Firefighting Effort
There have been many changes in Portugal's firefighting effort since 2017, the country’s worst and deadliest year for fires, which included the massive ones in central Portugal of Pedrógão Grande in June and the Great Fire of October: 114 people perished and 520,000 hectares burned in which the hardest-hit municipality, my municipality, Oliveira do Hospital, lost 43,191 hectares, according to Observador (October 27, 2017).
During “Delta level” (July 1 to September 30), there was a planned increase of ground personnel of 14,155 compared to 13,381 previously, according to SIC Notícias (May 14). The number of vehicles was put at 3,173.
This spring, Portugal contracted for 70 airplanes and helicopters, especially useful in inaccessible or difficult to reach places, according to SIC Notícias (May 31).
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