Overview

• Police say the women acted independently and are linked to at least eleven wildfires.
• In Paredes, one suspect allegedly set five fires between late June and early August, destroying about 20 hectares and threatening nearby homes before rapid response limited damage.
• Investigators report that this suspect could not explain her actions and will be presented to an investigating judge.
• In Loulé, the other suspect is accused of starting a September blaze, with at least six similar fires recorded in the area since March 2024.
• Authorities describe 2025 as Portugal’s second-worst fire year since EFFIS records began in 2006 and note dozens of arson-related arrests across the country.