Portugal recorded its first fatality from the wildfires that have been burning for more than three weeks after former Guarda mayor Carlos Dâmaso died on Friday while helping to fight a blaze near his home town, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said in a statement. The head of state cut short his vacation and returned to Lisbon to monitor what he called the country’s “grave rural-fire situation.” Several thousand firefighters are battling at least five major fires across central and northern regions. With local resources stretched, Lisbon has triggered the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism and asked for four Canadair water-bombing aircraft, which are expected to remain in Portugal until 18 August. Firefighters faced renewed flare-ups after overnight lightning strikes, and rescue teams evacuated residents, including an elderly woman who stayed behind to defend her property. Persistent heat and high winds are complicating containment efforts, officials said.