The head of the Silves fire brigade, commandant António Nunes, told The Portugal News on Monday morning that the Silves front was “extinguished” and now in a phase of “containing and consolidating the aftermath”.

He said that while the fire was out, a rise in temperatures forecast for this afternoon heightens concerns of flare-ups.

The commandant added his men and women are making the most of the slightly cooler temperatures and gentler winds this morning to “consildate efforts” to ensure the fire does not reignite.

His comments come as many residents in Silves, the Algarve’s largest county, are dousing down their homes and are evacuating animals from stables in preparation for the flames.

A number of Silves’ fire-fighters are also up in the mountain area of Monchique, helping tackle the mammoth wildfire there.