"It was with deep regret and consternation that the Minister of Internal Administration, Maria Lúcia Amaral, the Deputy Secretary of State for Internal Administration, Paulo Simões Ribeiro, the Secretary of State for Internal Administration, Telmo Correia, and the Secretary of State for Civil Protection, Rui Rocha, learned of the death of a firefighter from the Covilhã Fire Department, Daniel Bernardo Agrelo, 44, who was the victim of a traffic accident while on duty, while on his way to the fire in Quinta do Campo, Fundão," the Ministry of Internal Administration said in a statement released today.

In the statement, "on behalf of the Government, the Ministry of Internal Affairs extends, at this tragic time, a word of solidarity and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, the Humanitarian Association of the Covilhã Volunteer Firefighters, and all firefighters."

The Minister of Internal Affairs and the Secretaries of State for Internal Affairs and Civil Protection also express their best wishes for a speedy and full recovery to the four firefighters injured in this tragic traffic accident, which involved a vehicle from the Covilhã Volunteer Firefighters, this Sunday, August 17, 2025.


A firefighter from the Covilhã Fire Department died on Sunday in a car accident while traveling to a rural fire that broke out in the municipality of Fundão, the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANEPC) said.

In a statement, the agency indicated that the accident occurred at 7:10 p.m. and also left four people injured, one of whom was seriously injured.

According to the Civil Protection Sub-Regional Command of Beiras and Serra da Estrela, the accident occurred in the village of São Francisco de Assis, in the municipality of Covilhã, in the district of Castelo Branco, which also includes the municipality of Fundão.

This was the second death recorded this year in rural fires. On Friday, a former mayor of Vila Franca do Deão, in the municipality of Guarda (and a candidate in this year's municipal elections for the parish presidency), died fighting the flames at the age of 43.