LISBON, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Mayor of Alijo in Northern Portugal Carlos Magalhaes said on Monday forest fires which erupted early Sunday was out of control and he was preparing to declare a state of emergency in the area, according to Portuguese Lusa News Agency.
"This is an appeal for help because we cannot control the blaze, the men who are here are exhausted, we need something more," he said.
He said he had asked for more aircraft to fight the fire as the surrounding area is very steep and full of rocks which made it impossible for firefighters to combat the raging fires.
More than 20 people including the elderly, children and the sick have been evacuated from their home in the area of Alijo, some 400 km northeast of Lisbon.
The firefighters are also combating raging forest fires in Mangalde and Guarda, Oleiros in northern Portugal on Monday.
The forest fires came one month after the deadly fires in Perdogao Grande, some 200 km northeast of Lisbon, which claimed 64 lives and injured some 250 others.
