The rekindling of a fire in a car towing a caravan that burned on the Southern Highway (A2) at km 207, towards south / north, spread to the weeds on both sides of the road and caused a violent fire that closed the A2 in both directions.
The fire has three active fronts and is fought by one hundred and a half operatives and ten air means.
A source from the Territorial Command of Beja of the GNR revealed that the fire “has originated in a vehicle that circulated on the A2 which caught fire and spread to the bush”, adding that “the highway is closed, traffic being diverted to alternative routes., justified.
The alert for the fire in the vehicle was given around 12,00 hours, but, for reasons still under investigation, a subsequent rekindling led to the rural fire, in the area of ​​Monte dos Medronhais, Parishes in Union de Santa Clara-a-Nova and Gomes Aires, in the municipality of Almodovar.
The second commander of the Sub-Regional Command of the Emergency and Civil Protection of Baixo Alentejo, Lidador told the News (LN) that “various corporations from Alentejo were mobilized, Algarve and Central Alentejo Reinforcement Groups and the Special Fire Brigade (FEB)- Canarinhos, total no 143 operational, 44 land means and 10 air means”, who added that the fire, given the strong wind and the difficult land accesses, is evolving into an area of ​​dense pine and eucalyptus forest”, concluded.
The GNR revealed that the traffic is interrupted in the interchanges of AlmodĂ´var (North South), traffic being diverted to Gomes Aires and Santana da Serra (IC1) and in SĂŁo Bartolomeu de Messines (South North), vehicles being forwarded to the IC 1 and EN2.
Teixeira Correia
(journalist)
Photo: DR
