Backed by water bombers and 123 vehicles, more than 400 firefighters were deployed after a fire broke out in a mountainous area of Mafra municipality around 3pm local time (1400 GMT) on Sunday. A huge cloud of black smoke billowed over the town of Venda do Pinheiro, in Mafra, with the fire forcing authorities to block several roads and evacuate a nursing home. Many locals fled their homes out of fear. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register A couple look at each other as smoke rises from a wildfire in Venda do Pinheiro in Mafra, Portugal July 31, 2022. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes read more Smoke billowing from the fire was visible from downtown Lisbon, about 33 km (21 miles) south, a Reuters witness said. Other fires were raging elsewhere in Portugal, including the central municipality of Ourem, where flames destroyed thousands of hectares two weeks ago. Over 1,000 firefighters were mobilized across the country. Like other European countries, Portugal has experienced a heat wave in recent weeks, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) in various parts of the country. Although the heat has subsided, temperatures are rising again. Weather agency IPMA announced that three areas in northern Portugal will be put on “red alert” due to extreme heat on Monday. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reporting by Catarina Demony, Miguel Pereira and Pedro Nunes in Mafra, Portugal. edited by Philippa Fletcher Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.