LISBON, Portugal (Reuters) – Some 1,200 firefighters were mobilized on Thursday in the post-control and containment phase of firefighting operations in central Portugal, to avoid a repeat of the deadly forest fires that recently swept across the region, which killed 64 people and injured some 240 others.
The devastating forest fires in Pedrogao Granda, some 150 kilometers northeast of the Portuguese capital city of Lisbon, that started on June 17 has now mostly been extinguished.
Rescuers are tightening safety checks and doing regular patrols on the mountains for fear of fresh fires. Fire engines and fire fighting helicopters remain on standby.
“It’s difficult to extinguish the fire, because the fire broke out in valleys where there are many trees. But we can try our best to put the fire out. The temperature is pretty low, which is good for our job,” said Marlene Bandeira, a firefighter.
Life in the town of Coimbra, one of worst-hit regions, has returned to normal.
Some cordoned-off roads have now reopened, and evacuated residents have returned home.
