More than 2,000 emergency personnel and roughly 20 aircraft are fighting active wildfires across northern and central Portugal in late August 2026. The Prime Minister has warned that the country faces weeks of continued risk, with temperatures exceeding 40°C and humidity at critically low levels in the interior.
Where the Fires Are
The most serious blaze began on 15 August near Torre de Moncorvo in the Bragança district (far northeast), burning more than 2,000 hectares and involving over 400 personnel and four aircraft. Additional fires are burning in Arouca (Aveiro district) and Santo Tirso in the Porto metropolitan area.
Nine interior districts have been placed under orange weather warning — Braga, Vila Real, Bragança, Viseu, Guarda, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Portalegre and Santarém — with maximum fire-risk conditions across all of them. The rest of mainland Portugal, excluding Lisbon, Setúbal and Faro, is under yellow warning.
Impact on Travellers
Coastal areas and cities are unaffected. Porto, Lisbon, the Algarve coast and Madeira are operating normally. Airports remain open. Beach resorts from Comporta to Sagres have not reported disruption.
The interior and northeast are the problem areas. If your itinerary includes the Douro Valley, Trás-os-Montes, Serra da Estrela or Peneda-Gerês, you should check conditions before travelling:
- The IPMA (Portuguese weather authority) publishes a daily fire-risk map that shows which areas are at maximum danger.
- On maximum-risk days, access to forested areas and national parks may be restricted by local authorities.
- Air quality can deteriorate rapidly in areas downwind of active fires. Travellers with respiratory conditions should take particular care.
What to Do
- Check IPMA’s fire-risk map the evening before any inland excursion.
- Do not enter forest roads, picnic areas or rural tracks when the fire risk index is maximum — access is typically prohibited by law on those days.
- If you spot smoke or fire, call Portugal’s emergency number: 112.
- Follow @ANEPC_Portugal on social media for real-time fire updates.
Looking Ahead
The Prime Minister described 2026 as another difficult year for forest fires and said conditions are expected to remain dangerous into September. Planned trips to the Douro Valley and inland parks should be monitored closely — conditions could change day to day.
For day-to-day travel in Portugal, our guide to getting around Portugal includes public transport options that avoid rural roads. Visitors heading to Porto can read our full Porto guide for city-based itineraries unaffected by the current fire risk.