Latest news and stories about public safety in Guarda, Portugal for expats and residents.
The National Republican Guard has conducted over 400 rescue and protection operations in mountainous regions since the start of 2024, primarily concentrated in the Serra da Estrela area.
A severe forest fire in the village of Carrapichana, Fornos de Algodres, is threatening local homes as emergency crews struggle to contain the blaze spreading toward Celorico da Beira.
Recent analyses confirm that human-induced climate change has increased the likelihood of major wildfires in Spain by twentyfold, resulting in significant displacement and destruction.
Civil Protection has brought the wildfire in Rochoso, Guarda, under control after it consumed up to 5,000 hectares, though dozens of municipalities remain at maximum risk.
A major wildfire in Guarda remains uncontrolled with three active fronts, involving 350 personnel and resulting in five minor injuries among emergency responders, though no residential areas are currently threatened.
Mainland Portugal is currently under maximum or very high wildfire risk, prompting the deployment of over 1,500 emergency personnel and 30 aircraft to manage the critical situation across multiple districts.
The fire consumed 0.2 hectares of pasture and brush in the municipality of Pinhel. SEPNA identified the suspect after an alert for a fire in an agricultural area.
GNR officers determined that the fire, which 'consumed about 0.8 hectares', originated from an authorised burn of garden waste that ended up getting out of control.
Family was assisted by INEM teams and firefighters and is hospitalised at Guarda Hospital
“The 32-year-old foreign suspects, whose whereabouts were unknown until Tuesday, were located in the city of Guarda and were arrested immediately following the issuance of their respective arrest warrants,” says the Judiciary Police.
The events took place in 2024. The minor was in institutional care when the institution alerted the PJ to evidence of sexual abuse by the father.
The Guarda GNR explained that the man has an arrest warrant against him following criminal proceedings in Germany. In Portugal, he was caught for not possessing identification documents.
Guarda is the district that records the highest number of isolated elderly people.
Con artists are cordial and travel with their “family”. The preferred targets are women driving alone, aged over 60. Victims have already lost more than 70,000 euros in 2026.
The suspect was arrested on Saturday by officers from the Celorico da Beira territorial post, in the Guarda district.
According to the PJ, the man is the alleged perpetrator of six rural fires that occurred on July 12, 14, and 31, and a seventh fire that took place on August 23 in the town of Rabaçal in Guarda.
The fires were caused by “direct flame ignition using a lighter” and consumed a total area of approximately four hectares.
The man was arrested outside of flagrante delicto. He is suspected of committing two crimes of sexual abuse and one crime of coercion.
A 33-year-old citizen, wanted by Brazilian authorities to serve a five-year prison sentence for the crime of kidnapping, was arrested in the city of Guarda, the PJ announced.
A victim with severe respiratory distress was located in the Lagoa dos Cântaros area.
A case of severe respiratory distress required a person to be airlifted from Serra da Estrela in a rescue operation involving firefighters, civil protection, and the air force.
Firefighters cannot stop responding to emergencies because fuel prices are rising, warns the president of the Guarda District Firefighters Federation. The support provided to associations in the municipality is not enough.
Both Guarda and Castelo Branco are under a yellow warning until Saturday due to high temperatures.
In April 2025, guards intercepted drugs intended for the ringleader, who is detained at the Guarda prison. The case involves 24 defendants.
In April 2025, guards intercepted drugs intended for the ringleader, who is detained at the Guarda prison. The case involves 24 defendants.
The detainee, who was on parole for previous convictions for drug trafficking and qualified theft, will be presented to the Guarda Department of Investigation and Penal Action for the application of coercive measures.
There is also one minor injury reported, a 49-year-old man.
A 55-year-old man was arrested by the Guarda Judicial Police and is required to undergo alcohol detoxification treatment.
The fires were allegedly started “using a direct flame, with no apparent motive, near a rural path with scattered residential housing.”
Minors used lighters to start fires in the central region, in Seia and Tábua. One of them was unaware of the danger, says the Judiciary Police.
