Started on Aug 18, 2026.
Portugal today7 days
True view
Fire view
Fire view (right): infrared (SWIR), sees through smoke and brings out the heat.
🟢 green = vegetation
🟤 brown = already burned
🟠 orange = fire right now
Drag to compare: normal photo on the left, heat brought out on the right.
Green: vegetationBrown: already burnedOrange: fire right nowSentinel-2 · Copernicus
Red dots: heat detected by satellite in the last 48h. NASA FIRMS
Quick facts
- Official status
- In ProgressActive, with crews working on it.
- People working on it
- 350 people
- Jurisdiction
- ANEPC
Burning near Santa Cruz, Portugal, an active wildfire has scorched 200 hectares, equivalent to 494 acres, since it started on August 18, 2026. Satellites are picking up an intense heat signature from the blaze, while space-based sensors have detected eight heat signatures clustering nearby over the last 48 hours.
A response force of 73 personnel mobilized by the ANEPC is currently deployed to tackle the incident. This event occurs within Portugal's typical fire season, which runs from June to October. Regionally, the fire unfolds against a broader backdrop where 62,263 hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, marking a figure that sits 41% below the two-decade average.
In context
This wildfire burned in Portugal for 2 days. In total it burned about 200 ha (494 acres) — around 2.0 km².
In the Northern Hemisphere, wildfire activity usually peaks during the warm, dry months — roughly May through October.
The bigger picture in Portugal
Across Portugal, roughly 71,274 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 32% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus EFFIS.
We'll email you if it grows, if it gets more contained, or if it goes out.
At most one alert every 6 hours, and only when something changes.
No account. One-click unsubscribe. · Privacy
Community reports
Reports from people near the fire · unverified
Be the first to report what is happening →
Not official emergency information. In an emergency, contact fire services/authorities.
More fires in Portugal
- Wildfire near LavegadasEnded
- Wildfire near São Marcos da SerraEnded
- Wildfire near Mesão FrioEnded
- Wildfire near Freixo de Espada à CintaEnded
- Wildfire near CastedoEnded
- Wildfire near LamegoEnded