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Pombeiro da Beira fire, October 2017 Uni3O Das Freguesias De S, Seixo da Beira, Serpins

Out · last detection 23 Oct 2017, 02:25 UTC

The fire started on 14 October 2017 in Pombeiro da Beira, Portugal, and satellites saw it burning for 10 days. Copernicus mapped a burnt perimeter of 132,830 hectares from satellite imagery, spread across 114 municipalities.

The largest in Portugal in 2017, of 211.

Compare with…
Burnt area
132,830ha
Copernicus perimeter
Duration
10days
14 Oct 2017 – 23 Oct 2017
Municipalities hit
114
freguesias
Started on
14 Oct
2017
Heat detections
1,662
in a single hotspot: 2,432 MW
Danger at start
28
High · FWI index
Average daily power
9.2GW
detected power per day, on average

Where it burned

HOTSPOTS BY DAY 14 Oct23 Oct
23 Oct 2017

How it evolved, day by day

15 Oct 2017 · 49,494 MW · 468 16 Oct 2017 · 14,928 MW · 1174 17 Oct 2017 · 122 MW · 12 18 Oct 2017 · 5 MW · 3 19 Oct 2017 · 4 MW · 2 22 Oct 2017 · 1 MW · 1 23 Oct 2017 · 1 MW · 2
15 Oct 16 Oct 17 Oct 18 Oct 19 Oct 22 Oct 23 Oct

Fire radiative power detected each day, in megawatts, and number of hotspots. The magenta bar marks the peak day.

The weather it burned in

34°high
56km/h · peak gust
18%lowest humidity

It had gone 45 days without rain (1 mm or more) when it started. Rain came after the fire: 8.6 mm on 2 Nov.

This area had burned before

1% of the perimeter overlaps earlier fires recorded since 2016: 843 ha in 2016.

How big is it?

10 km
It burned the equivalent of 84% of the area of London (1,328 km² against 1,583 km²).

London boundary: geoBoundaries · Office for National Statistics (Open Government Licence v3.0).

This compares size, not location: both shapes are at the same scale, north up, centred on each other.

What happened to each town

  1. 3,793 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  2. Seixo da Beira 1,369 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    3,367 ha
    100 %
  3. Serpins 1,711 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    3,276 ha reached on 15 Oct
    91 %
  4. São Martinho da Cortiça 1,188 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    3,172 ha reached on 15 Oct
    100 %
  5. Pomares 431 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    3,164 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  6. Sobral 2,189 inhabitants · 2.6 km from the centre
    2,952 ha reached on 16 Oct
    46 %
  7. União das Freguesias de Ervedal e Vila Franca da Beira 465 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,846 ha
    99 %
  8. 2,822 ha reached on 16 Oct
    54 %
  9. União das Freguesias de Ázere e Covelo 826 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,552 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  10. União das Freguesias de Vide e Cabeça 570 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,539 ha reached on 16 Oct
    45 %
  11. Santa Comba Dão e Couto de Mosteiro 4,407 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,517 ha reached on 16 Oct
    93 %
  12. Pombeiro da Beira 903 inhabitants · fire reached the centre where it started
    2,476 ha reached on 15 Oct
    77 %
  13. União das Freguesias de Tourais e Lajes 1,529 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,456 ha
    94 %
  14. Senhorim 1,019 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,392 ha
    77 %
  15. 2,366 ha reached on 16 Oct
    51 %
  16. 2,264 ha
    100 %
  17. Carregal do Sal 3,225 inhabitants · 0.5 km from the centre
    2,203 ha reached on 16 Oct
    61 %
  18. Lajeosa do Dão 1,537 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,183 ha reached on 16 Oct
    88 %
  19. União das Freguesias de Ovoa e Vimieiro 1,480 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,133 ha reached on 16 Oct
    95 %
  20. Paranhos 1,265 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,117 ha
    100 %
  21. Covas e Vila Nova de Oliveirinha 1,232 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,047 ha
    94 %
  22. Friúmes e Paradela 813 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,037 ha reached on 16 Oct
    92 %
  23. São Miguel de Poiares 1,301 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    2,029 ha reached on 15 Oct
    99 %
  24. Treixedo e Nagozela 1,189 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,961 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  25. Côja e Barril de Alva 1,563 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,948 ha reached on 15 Oct
    80 %
  26. Benfeita 372 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,881 ha reached on 15 Oct
    86 %
  27. Girabolhos 241 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,763 ha
    98 %
  28. Aldeia das Dez 474 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,745 ha reached on 16 Oct
    94 %
  29. Vila Cova de Alva e Anseriz 535 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,700 ha
    100 %
  30. 1,621 ha reached on 16 Oct
    88 %
  31. Travanca de Lagos 1,124 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,597 ha
    100 %
  32. São João de Areias 1,721 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,581 ha reached on 16 Oct
    74 %
  33. Mouraz e Vila Nova da Rainha 1,293 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,561 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  34. Nogueira do Cravo 2,168 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,500 ha
    100 %
  35. Mangualde, Mesquitela e Cunha Alta 9,858 inhabitants · 1.8 km from the centre
    1,485 ha reached on 17 Oct
    32 %
  36. Penalva de Alva e São Sebastião da Feira 928 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,454 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  37. Sameice e Santa Eulália 508 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,446 ha reached on 15 Oct
    100 %
  38. Lourosa 559 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,394 ha
    100 %
  39. Dardavaz 703 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,375 ha reached on 17 Oct
    100 %
  40. Silgueiros 2,021 inhabitants · 0.8 km from the centre
    1,368 ha reached on 16 Oct
    38 %
  41. Oliveira do Hospital e São Paio de Gramaços 5,835 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,367 ha reached on 17 Oct
    100 %
  42. Lagos da Beira e Lajeosa 1,127 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,349 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  43. Lagares 1,382 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,315 ha
    100 %
  44. Cunha Baixa 801 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,268 ha
    83 %
  45. Cabanas de Viriato 1,457 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,261 ha reached on 16 Oct
    59 %
  46. Travancinha 387 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,256 ha
    100 %
  47. Vila Nova do Ceira 931 inhabitants · 0.5 km from the centre
    1,229 ha reached on 15 Oct
    62 %
  48. Lobão da Beira 1,002 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,217 ha reached on 16 Oct
    87 %
  49. Midões 1,574 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,208 ha
    60 %
  50. Pinheiro de Ázere 830 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,204 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  51. São Gião 341 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,180 ha reached on 16 Oct
    81 %
  52. Alvoco das Várzeas 314 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,163 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  53. Oliveira do Conde 2,798 inhabitants · 1.0 km from the centre
    1,162 ha reached on 16 Oct
    33 %
  54. Lavegadas 174 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,137 ha reached on 15 Oct
    100 %
  55. Tondela e Nandufe 5,215 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,116 ha reached on 16 Oct
    70 %
  56. União das Freguesias de Espariz e Sinde 859 inhabitants · 1.5 km from the centre
    1,088 ha reached on 16 Oct
    46 %
  57. Espinho fire reached the centre
    1,065 ha reached on 17 Oct
    72 %
  58. Tábua 3,682 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,061 ha reached on 16 Oct
    42 %
  59. Molelos 2,225 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    1,006 ha
    66 %
  60. Carragozela e Várzea de Meruge 548 inhabitants · 3.1 km from the centre
    1,002 ha reached on 15 Oct
    100 %
  61. São Joaninho 1,014 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    959 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  62. Carapinha 366 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    934 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  63. Poiares (Santo André) 4,113 inhabitants · 1.0 km from the centre
    908 ha reached on 15 Oct
    32 %
  64. Beijós 814 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    890 ha reached on 16 Oct
    72 %
  65. Candosa 531 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    863 ha
    76 %
  66. Ferreirós do Dão 355 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    813 ha
    100 %
  67. Sandomil 745 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    811 ha reached on 16 Oct
    61 %
  68. Parada 744 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    800 ha reached on 16 Oct
    69 %
  69. Marmeleira 3,817 inhabitants · 1.4 km from the centre
    796 ha
    43 %
  70. Nelas 4,636 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    778 ha
    35 %
  71. Tonda 893 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    756 ha reached on 16 Oct
    100 %
  72. 753 ha
    100 %
  73. Torrozelo e Folhadosa 708 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    749 ha reached on 15 Oct
    73 %
  74. Meruge 490 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    728 ha
    100 %
  75. Avô 847 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    706 ha
    100 %
  76. União das Freguesias de Lousã e Vilarinho 2,893 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    676 ha reached on 15 Oct
    9.3 %
  77. Folques 342 inhabitants · 0.9 km from the centre
    629 ha reached on 15 Oct
    35 %
  78. Bobadela 704 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    572 ha
    100 %
  79. Pinheiro de Coja e Meda de Mouros 443 inhabitants · 0.7 km from the centre
    541 ha reached on 16 Oct
    27 %
  80. Santa Comba 725 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    530 ha
    45 %
  81. Piódão 120 inhabitants · 0.5 km from the centre
    516 ha reached on 16 Oct
    14 %
  82. Canas de Santa Maria 1,607 inhabitants · 0.6 km from the centre
    463 ha
    33 %
  83. Penacova 2,824 inhabitants · 2.3 km from the centre
    417 ha
    13 %
  84. Castelões 1,415 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    393 ha
    23 %
  85. Cativelos 610 inhabitants · 0.7 km from the centre
    384 ha
    27 %
  86. União das Freguesias de Santar e Moreira 1,411 inhabitants · 1.3 km from the centre
    354 ha reached on 16 Oct
    22 %
  87. Foz de Arouce e Casal de Ermio 1,263 inhabitants · 2.8 km from the centre
    314 ha reached on 15 Oct
    16 %
  88. Moimenta de Maceira Dão e Lobelhe do Mato 727 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    312 ha
    44 %
  89. Mouronho 755 inhabitants · 2.0 km from the centre
    308 ha reached on 16 Oct
    13 %
  90. Sarzedo 636 inhabitants · 1.4 km from the centre
    292 ha reached on 16 Oct
    25 %
  91. Vila Nova de Tazem 1,469 inhabitants · 1.5 km from the centre
    285 ha
    18 %
  92. Canas de Senhorim 3,334 inhabitants · 2.4 km from the centre
    266 ha
    10 %
  93. Santiago de Cassurrães e Póvoa de Cervães 1,218 inhabitants · 2.1 km from the centre
    260 ha
    8.6 %
  94. Guardão 1,229 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    259 ha
    14 %
  95. Lapa do Lobo 682 inhabitants · 1.0 km from the centre
    252 ha
    34 %
  96. Santiago 1,164 inhabitants · 1.3 km from the centre
    207 ha reached on 15 Oct
    28 %
  97. Santiago de Besteiros 1,144 inhabitants · fire reached the centre
    199 ha
    12 %
  98. Pinhanços 727 inhabitants · 1.2 km from the centre
    194 ha
    23 %
  99. Carvalhal Redondo e Aguieira 1,371 inhabitants · 1.4 km from the centre
    158 ha reached on 16 Oct
    12 %
  100. Arganil 3,827 inhabitants · 3.5 km from the centre
    158 ha reached on 15 Oct
    4.6 %
  101. Cercosa 284 inhabitants · 2.0 km from the centre
    158 ha
    18 %
  102. São João da Boa Vista 393 inhabitants · 2.2 km from the centre
    152 ha
    15 %
  103. 114 ha
    6.1 %
  104. 108 ha reached on 15 Oct
    2.0 %
  105. Fornos de Maceira Dão 1,308 inhabitants · 0.8 km from the centre
    105 ha
    6.5 %
  106. Sazes da Beira 245 inhabitants · 1.1 km from the centre
    82 ha
    11 %
  107. Campo de Besteiros 1,318 inhabitants · 1.4 km from the centre
    63 ha
    7.8 %
  108. Póvoa de Midões 500 inhabitants · 1.4 km from the centre
    58 ha reached on 16 Oct
    6.0 %
  109. Vilar Seco 668 inhabitants · 3.1 km from the centre
    56 ha
    5.5 %
  110. Góis 1,874 inhabitants · 3.8 km from the centre
    54 ha reached on 15 Oct
    0.7 %
  111. União das Freguesias de Vilar de Besteiros e Mosteiro de Fráguas 893 inhabitants · 1.8 km from the centre
    35 ha
    1.6 %
  112. Arrifana 1,219 inhabitants · 3.3 km from the centre
    28 ha reached on 15 Oct
    1.2 %
  113. Quintela de Azurara 506 inhabitants · 1.4 km from the centre
    26 ha
    2.7 %
  114. Carvalho 677 inhabitants · 5.6 km from the centre
    7 ha
    0.2 %

Burnt area inside each municipality, from crossing the official perimeter with administrative boundaries. The distance runs from the point marking the centre of each area to the nearest fire: staying a kilometre away does not mean it reached the houses.

What burned

  • Scrub and transitional woodland26 %
  • Agricultural areas26 %
  • Mixed forest22 %
  • Coniferous forest13 %
  • Broadleaved forest7.0 %
  • Other natural land3.0 %
  • Other land cover1.6 %
  • Artificial surfaces1.5 %

Natura 2000 protected area affected: 15 %

Natura 2000 sites (European Environment Agency, 2024 release) crossed by the perimeter.

Land cover inside the perimeter according to Corine Land Cover, as reported by Copernicus.

People and buildings inside the perimeter

GHSL 2015
Built-up area1,819 ha
Residents≈ 73,000

Inside the perimeter there were about 1,819 hectares of built-up land and about 73,000 residents (GHSL 2015, satellite-based estimate).

This is an estimate on 100 m cells, made from satellite imagery and census data: it does not mean that homes burned or that anyone was harmed. The perimeter also contains land that never burned.

Source: Global Human Settlement Layer (GHS-BUILT-S and GHS-POP R2023A), European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), © European Union, CC BY 4.0. Sum inside the perimeter computed by WorldFires. human-settlement.emergency.copernicus.eu

Official record

Several official records match this area

According to ICNF, 6 fires started inside this perimeter on these dates, totalling 106,104 ha (the satellite measured 132,830 ha). The two figures differ a lot, so these may not be exactly the same fire: take them as nearby records.

ICNF records each fire that started at a different time or place separately; the satellite sees a single burned area, so this page groups them together. The numbers on the map show where each one started.

When each one burned

1 7 ha 2 53,619 ha 3 11,808 ha 4 37,958 ha 5 10 ha 6 2,702 ha
9 Oct18 Oct
negligence arson rekindling cause unknown or not published
  1. 1 Mangualde Mangualde 9 October 2017 · 16:31 7 ha · extinguished on 9 October 2017 · cause: negligence
  2. 2 Lousã Vilarinho 15 October 2017 · 08:41 53,619 ha · extinguished on 17 October 2017 · cause: negligence
  3. 3 Seia Sandomil 15 October 2017 · 10:26 11,808 ha · extinguished on 17 October 2017 · cause: arson
  4. 4 Arganil Coja 15 October 2017 · 12:28 37,958 ha · extinguished on 18 October 2017 · cause: rekindling
  5. 5 Tondela Barreiro de Besteiros 15 October 2017 · 20:22 10 ha · extinguished on 16 October 2017
  6. 6 Seia Vide 15 October 2017 · 23:00 2,702 ha · extinguished on 17 October 2017 · cause: arson

Total according to ICNF: 106,104 ha, 80 % of the 132,830 ha in the satellite perimeter.

ICNF (Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas). This is the agency’s operational record: its figures may be revised when the year’s statistics are closed.

The weather day by day

ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis at the fire location, the standard reference for past weather, and the Canadian Fire Weather Index (the same system Copernicus uses), computed by WorldFires from that data. Days after the fire run until the first rain.

Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0) · Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5)

Day High Min. humidity Peak gust Rain Danger (FWI)
14 Oct 30.8 °C 27 % 24 km/h 0.0 mm High 28
15 Oct 34.0 °C 18 % 56 km/h 0.0 mm Very high 49
16 Oct 24.6 °C 36 % 40 km/h 1.0 mm High 22
17 Oct 20.7 °C 46 % 44 km/h 21.3 mm Very low 2
18 Oct 17.5 °C 66 % 38 km/h 13.9 mm Very low 0
19 Oct 18.5 °C 77 % 30 km/h 0.2 mm Very low 0
20 Oct 19.6 °C 95 % 28 km/h 5.1 mm Very low 0
21 Oct 18.5 °C 64 % 35 km/h 1.1 mm Very low 0
22 Oct 20.7 °C 44 % 28 km/h 0.0 mm Very low 2
23 Oct 24.3 °C 36 % 22 km/h 0.0 mm Low 6
24 Oct after 26.5 °C 27 % 30 km/h 0.0 mm Moderate 13
25 Oct after 26.3 °C 34 % 34 km/h 0.0 mm Moderate 15
26 Oct after 27.4 °C 42 % 20 km/h 0.0 mm Moderate 13
27 Oct after 30.3 °C 28 % 34 km/h 0.0 mm Moderate 19
28 Oct after 27.6 °C 31 % 40 km/h 0.0 mm Moderate 21
29 Oct after 25.7 °C 23 % 32 km/h 0.0 mm Moderate 21
30 Oct after 23.6 °C 38 % 41 km/h 0.0 mm Moderate 21
31 Oct after 23.9 °C 37 % 28 km/h 0.0 mm Moderate 18
1 Nov after 21.7 °C 50 % 42 km/h 0.0 mm Moderate 17
2 Nov after 19.1 °C 71 % 43 km/h 8.6 mm Very low 0

Before and after, from space

Drag the line to compare the same ground before the fire and after it.

Before · 7 Oct 2017
After · 30 Oct 2017

If the day is cloudy, change the date: each satellite passes once a day. In false colour the burnt ground looks brown or red.

Detections table · 1,662Every satellite heat detection, one by one, with time, satellite, power and coordinates.
⬇ Download CSV Times in UTC. Each detection is a 375 m pixel: a large fire yields hundreds per pass.
Date and timeSatelliteFRP (MW)LatLon

Other fires nearby

All fires in Portugal ›

Frequently asked questions

How long did the Pombeiro da Beira fire last?
According to the heat detections seen by satellite inside the perimeter, it burned from 14 October 2017 to 23 October 2017 (10 days). The perimeter dates it from 14 October 2017 to 22 October 2017.
How much area did it burn?
The perimeter Copernicus measured from satellite imagery is 132,830 hectares (1,328.3 km²). Official national figures may differ.
Which municipalities burned?
The fire entered 114 municipalities: Uni3O Das Freguesias De S (3,793 ha, 100 %); Seixo da Beira (3,367 ha, 100 %); Serpins (3,276 ha, 91 %); São Martinho da Cortiça (3,172 ha, 100 %); Pomares (3,164 ha, 100 %); Sobral (2,952 ha, 46 %); União das Freguesias de Ervedal e Vila Franca da Beira (2,846 ha, 99 %); União das freguesias de Mortágua, Vale de Remígio, Cortegaça e Almaça (2,822 ha, 54 %); União das Freguesias de Ázere e Covelo (2,552 ha, 100 %); União das Freguesias de Vide e Cabeça (2,539 ha, 45 %); Santa Comba Dão e Couto de Mosteiro (2,517 ha, 93 %); Pombeiro da Beira (2,476 ha, 77 %).
Did the fire reach a town?
The fire started in Pombeiro da Beira and reached its centre: the point marking it was inside the burnt area or less than 500 metres from it. That does not mean houses burned.
What was the weather like?
During the fire the temperature reached 34.0 °C, humidity dropped to 18 % and gusts hit 56 km/h. The fire danger index (FWI) reached 49, class Very high.
Where does this data come from?
From the EFFIS (Copernicus) burnt perimeter, NASA FIRMS VIIRS hotspots and the administrative boundaries of Portugal (geoBoundaries). It is not an official report.

Where to verify it

A satellite detection is not an official report. Final figures and the fire’s status are published by each country’s emergency service.

Emergency number: 112 · Emergency number and official warnings ›

Satellite cross-check

History of this page · 1 Changes in area, dates, name, official record or merged pages, compared every night since 24 October 2026.
  1. Last day with fire: 22 October 2017 → 23 October 2017.

RSS Changes to this page

Does something look wrong on this page?

This page is built from satellite data and official records, and it sometimes gets things wrong: the wrong dates, the wrong town, two fires merged into one, or something that was not a wildfire at all. If you know this fire first-hand (you live nearby, saw it, fought it or reported on it), tell us what really happened and we will check it.

Report an error
What do you think is wrong?

We will only use your email to reply about this report. Privacy. This is not an emergency service: if there is a fire now, call 112.

How we know this
  • Perimeter: EFFIS (Copernicus), mapped on satellite imagery; 4 polygons grouped in this page.
  • Dates adjusted with the VIIRS detections inside the perimeter, which said 14 October 2017 to 22 October 2017. 1,662 Suomi-NPP VIIRS detections on those dates.
  • Compared with ICNF: 106,104 official ha against 132,830 ha of perimeter; similar, but with reservations.
  • Weather: Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis at the fire location, in cells of about 25 km.
  • Built-up area and population come from the JRC Global Human Settlement Layer (epoch 2015, 100 m cells), summed inside the perimeter: an estimate of what was there, not a damage count.

How we build fire pages: methodology ›

Where this data comes from

The perimeter and land cover come from the Copernicus European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), measured on MODIS and Sentinel-2 imagery and published under CC BY 4.0. Heat detections come from the VIIRS sensors aboard Suomi-NPP and NOAA-20, distributed by NASA FIRMS at 375 m resolution. Municipal boundaries come from geoBoundaries ADM3 (CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication). The area per municipality is computed by WorldFires by crossing the perimeter with those boundaries, so it may differ slightly from each country’s official figure.