## 5 Conclusions  
Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the critical infrastructure, fire risk, and vulnerability within the historic city center of Guimaraes. The findings emphasize the need for robust emergency plans that prioritize the high-risk zones and consider the specific challenges posed by the medieval layout of the city center. By understanding the vulnerabilities and addressing areas of concern, stakeholders and authorities can enhance the resilience of the city center and ensure the safety of its residents and assets during extreme events, by providing adequate preparation and response to these events.  
The unique characteristics of the city center, with its buildings situated close to each other and limited access points, present a particular vulnerability. While emergency services can access most buildings through the surrounding large roads, certain areas can only be reached by pedestrians or by directly entering the buildings. This poses challenges in the event of a fire outbreak, as it has the potential to rapidly spread throughout the entire historic city center.  
The severity of this vulnerability is amplified by the high number of buildings in this area with a high Fire Risk Index. Furthermore, the examination of potential population exposure reveals that most buildings do not have regular occupants. However, among those with regular inhabitants, there is a moderate to high fire risk, including households with three members and buildings accommodating individuals with disabilities. This sociodemographic analysis highlights the vulnerability of Guimaraes' city center to fire risk.  
Based on these findings, it is imperative to prioritize emergency planning and preparedness efforts in the historic city center. Addressing fire risks in the historic city center of Guimaraes requires a multifaceted approach, including regular inspections, maintenance of technical installations, proactive measures such as fire prevention training, and efficient emergency service routes. Adherence to preservation guidelines is crucial considering the area's limitations. Prioritizing emergency planning and preparedness, ensuring accessibility of emergency services, and implementing fire safety regulation, education, and awareness campaigns are vital to mitigating the high fire risk in the area. Proactively addressing vulnerabilities and adopting a coordinated approach to emergency response can enhance the resilience of Guimaraes' historic city center, safeguarding residents' well-being and protecting its invaluable cultural heritage.  
Conceptualization, O.U. and E.T.; methodology, O.U.; validation, E.T., H.S.S. and A.F.; formal analysis, J.C.M.; investigation, O.U. and E.T.; resources, E.T. and J.C.M.; data curation, O.U; writing--original draft preparation, E.T.; writing--review and editing, O.U., H.S.S. and A.F.; supervision, E.T., A.F. and J.C.M.; project administration, J.C.M.; funding acquisition, E.T. and J.C.M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
This work was partly financed by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the grant number PD/2020.07208.BD, by FEDER funds through the Competitivity Factors Operational Programme-COMPETE, and by national funds through FCT (Foundation for Science and Technology) within the scope of the project InfraCrit with the reference: POCI-01-0247-FEDER-039555). This work was partly financed by FCT/MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC) under the R & D Unit Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), under reference UIDB/04029/2020, and under the Associate Laboratory Advanced Production and Intelligent Systems ARISE under reference LA/P/0112/2020.  
Not applicable.  
No new data were created or analyzed in this study. Data sharing is not applicable to this article.  
The authors declare no conflict of interest.