STORY: Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME) crews helped protect a house threatened by a wildfire in Vouzela, Portugal, on Saturday (July 4).

Spain has deployed 120 UME firefighters and support vehicles and aircrafts to assist Portuguese authorities as wildfires continue to rage across the country, scorching at least 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres).

Carlos Antunes, whose house was protected by UME after being threatened by the flames, said the Spanish crews were highly professional and well-equipped.

Italy also announced it would send two firefighting aircraft to support operations in Portugal.

The blaze began on Thursday (July 2) in the parish of Tourelhe before rapidly spreading to neighbouring municipalities.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: VOUZELA, PORTUGAL (JULY 4, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS DOUSING FLAMES

2. FIRE BURNING

3. FIREFIGHTERS WITH HOSE

4. SMOKE RISING

5. VARIOUS OF AIR TANKER DROPPING WATER

6. FIRE ENGINES AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES BY THE ROAD

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH MILITARY EMERGENCY UNIT (UME), MANUEL GONZALEZ LOPEZ, SAYING:

“They called us yesterday and we left as soon as we got the call. There’s 120 military, most are from the emergency batallion in Leon and 10 people from Madrid headquarter.”

8. FIREFIGHTERS LEAVING HOME THEY ARE PROTECTING

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH MILITARY EMERGENCY UNIT (UME), MANUEL GONZALEZ LOPEZ, SAYING:

“Right now we received commands from the head of the Portuguese operations to end a fire. He gives us missions. Right now we are defending a home that was under threat because the fire was rising fast and we have placed some barriers to prevent the house from burning down.”

10. FIREFIGHTERS OUTSIDE HOME

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) OWNER OF HOME PROTECTED BY FIREFIGHTERS, CARLOS ANTUNES, SAYING:

“It’s a very specialized group because the job they did was very well done. It’s a professional team that is very well-equipped for these kinds of jobs. Great work.”

12. FIRE ENGINES OUTSIDE HOME