Monte da Bemposta, located in the parish of Aboim da Nóbrega, in Vila Verde, burns for the third time in a week, and the authorities no longer have any doubt that it is a criminal hand.
This Sunday, about 40 firefighters supported by a dozen vehicles fight the flames that plow since 14:32 this afternoon, being, by 16:20, controlled but not yet dominated.
The hillside, next to a campsite and some housing and commerce, started to burn last Saturday, with an alert to be given around 1:30 am. Witnesses at the scene indicate that the flames started from the municipal road that connects that parish to Ponte da Barca.
Photo: Domingos Costa / O MINHO
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Evidence suggests that the alleged arsonist started the fire from the road, then climbed up the hill. At the time, about 40 firefighters managed to extinguish the flames during the night, with the fire undergoing some reactivations during the past week.
This Friday night, a new fire broke out at the top of the slope, still far from where it had burned for the first time, seeming to rule out the possibility of a rekindling in the face of the previous fire. Two witnesses say they saw two people with lights in the middle of the hillside shortly after the fire started and even before the arrival of firefighters and authorities.
Photo: Domingos Costa / O MINHO
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One of the witnesses, owner of the housing closest to the burnt area, even went so far as to look for the alleged people who would be near the ignition site, but without success.
This Sunday, another part of the slope began to burn, for no apparent reason, shortly after lunch. MINHO spoke to some firefighters who seem to have no doubt that this is an arsonist who wants to see that burnt hill.
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