Portugal Forest Fire Extinguished

A windswept forest fire that killed 15 people was extinguished Sunday, but firefighters remained on the alert throughout this hilly region in central Portugal.

The Agueda fire department, which was in charge of the 36-hour battle against the blaze that scorched about 12,350 acres, said in a statement that the fire was put out late Sunday morning.

But this town, 160 miles north of Lisbon, remained covered in ash as hundreds of residents jammed city hall to pay tribute to eight local firefighters killed on the job Saturday.

Also killed were four other firefighters and three residents.

Fire department officials said a sharp drop in the temperature late Saturday and early Sunday, lower wind velocity and a heavy dew helped firefighters put out the last remnants of the blaze.