More than 700 firefighters have been called in to try to contain the flames, but the windy weather has made the work more difficult.

On Saturday night, a 21-year-old firefighter died and six were injured in a road accident in connection with the fire fighting, reports Reuters.

"I would like to send a greeting with solidarity, encouragement and thanks to the rescue workers ... for the work they are doing for Portugal and for all of us," said Prime Minister Antonio Costa in a statement.

Evacuation and destroyed houses

The fire started in the district of Oleiros on July 18 and has since spread to two nearby districts where people have been forced to evacuate.

- It is houses that have burned down. People have been evacuated but most have been able to return to their homes, rescue leader Luis Belo Costa told Reuters.

Among the worst affected countries

Portugal is one of the worst affected countries in Europe when it comes to forest fires, according to EU statistics. One explanation for this is that few people live in the central parts of the country and that the work of clearing dead trees and shrubs has been neglected.

This year's fires are small compared to the massive forest fires that spread across the region in June 2017, when 66 people died and over 250 were injured.