The Monchique fire has been quelled with the deployment of 250 firemen, helicopter and aircraft support, and 83 fire trucks.
A Land Rover from Lago Bombeiros was destroyed after it ran off a narrow track, injuring the driver, and was overtaken by flames before it could be winched to safety.
This morning the smoldering remains of a vast area of countryside is being monitored for further outbreaks.
The commander of the fire service, speaking to Sul Informação this morning said that success was possible 'due to the commitment of the men on the ground', who from about 12 o'clock yesterday lunchtime had to face "a very complicated situation and fight an extensive blaze on three fronts.”
Yesterday (October 1st) we reported:
"A fire that started at 12.20 today near the village of Tojeiro, Marmelete in the Monchique hills is out of control and now is threatening many homes.
The fire is advancing on three fronts and is approaching properties but is being dealt with by 130 firefighters from every fire service in the Algarve with back up from aerial water drops from helicopters and specialist aircraft.
The fire is moving south towards Portimão straight towards the International Autodrome with the Algarve's Civil Defence organisation saying that it is throwing all it has got to quell the flames that are ripping through tinder dry vegetation and forests of eucalyptus.
Luckily the area's properties are few and far between and most homeowners have followed fire control advice and kept the zones surrounding their properties clear of combustible materials. Many householders have been evacuated for their own safety.
Mayor Rui André said "the fire is uncontrollable" and "could threaten a few houses scattered through the mountains," especially to the north where firefighting efforts are at their most dedicated due to a marginally higher density of properties.
As the fire continued into the night reports of a vehicle being destroyed by the flames were confirmed but low overnight temperatures and humidity is helping control the inferno and fire chiefs are expecting the successful end to the incident in the early hours of Friday morning."
