The vehicle was one of only three of its type belonging to the Portimão Fire Department, which had been called out to assist their colleagues in neighbouring Monchique.
No injuries were reported in the blaze in Portela do Vale, in Monchique, which took hours to bring under control. The fire was eventually extinguished late on Monday night with the assistance of 135 firefighters from stations across the
Algarve.
The head of Portimão fire station, Álvaro Bila, told Lusa News Agency “fortunately, there are no personal injuries to report on the five firefighters who were in the vehicle, which was completely
destroyed.”
According to Bila, the perished vehicle was the station’s newest, acquired last year, and the corporation is now reduced to just two forest-fire fighting trucks.
Monchique has repeatedly been placed on the highest level of alert in recent weeks due to prevailing weather conditions, which have been consistently hot and
blustery.
Monday night’s blaze had two active fronts and was tackled by 45 vehicles and an aircraft.