06/16/2024 – 15:48
The Military Fire Department of the State of Rio de Janeiro continues its work to combat the forest fire in the Itatiaia National Park (PNI), which began on Friday afternoon (14), around 2 pm. Since then, more than 100 firefighters have been used, from 18 fire stations in various municipalities in the state, with the use of up to two aircraft. Created in 1937, the PNI is the first national park in Brazil.
The fire department spokesman, Major Fábio Contreiras, informed that it is still not possible to predict how long the fight will last, because the high part is difficult to access and even reaches locations of more than 2 thousand and 2.5 thousand meters of altitude. Therefore, it is essential to use aircraft that go to a water collection point in tanks set up nearby, collect the water in baskets and throw it from above to combat outbreaks in these locations.
Related news:
“Access is bad, the places are steep. It is a challenge for the firefighter to be there physically, because the slope is very high, so ground combat is not possible. In these locations, two aircraft simultaneously fight the fire by throwing water,” he said in an interview with Agency Brazil.
According to Contreiras, the work is supported by 25 guards from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), which manages the site, and around 50 Army soldiers who participate in manual combat using mufflers.
Part of the 100 firefighters assigned to the operation are working on the aircraft and the rest in other parts close to the road where the fire is also spreading. “In these locations we were able to carry out combat on foot, with different garrisons, using mufflers at fires in places with easier access. We also have a lot of water vehicles there, as some roads allow access for trucks and, as a result, we are able to fight in places closer to the roads,” he said.
“It is important to remember that we have these three fronts. That of the aircraft, the soldiers who are entering with the mufflers and the vehicles, which carry out this combat on the roads closest to the points that are not very remote”, he added.
Affected area
Initial calculations indicate that an area of 150 hectares is reached, on average, and that, according to major, it can still grow due to the difficulty of access and the conditions of dry vegetation and winds in the higher areas. “In addition to aircraft, we are mapping with drones, which show the area and we can get a sense of it. At the moment 150, with the tendency to increase”.
“Very strong winds help the fire to spread. The vegetation in these places is low, which makes it spread very quickly,” he commented, adding that the lack of rain is another aggravating factor.
The major highlighted that some of the firefighters working in the fight are specialists in forest fires, as they are common in the Itatiaia region at this time of year. Some demanded combat for weeks.
Contreiras stated that in addition to its environmental importance, the Itatiaia National Park is a relevant area for the corporation, which takes specialization courses in forest fire there and trains before graduating. “We are already used to the place and have all the cartography. We know the terrain, which unfortunately has suffered from fires for decades,” he said.
Although it is not yet known with certainty what caused the fires, the major says that in 99% of them there are human causes such as bonfires, accumulation of rubbish and cigarette butts, in addition to balloons and fireworks. “The place where the fire started, in Morro do Couto, a location 2,500 meters high, on average, is remote. It is not frequented by people, so we believe that the cause could have been a balloon, or explorers, people who hike and discard material and do not respect the park’s rules. Unfortunately, all of this can contribute.”
The Paquetur concessionaire, responsible for public use of the park, reported that the fire started in the upper part of the PNI, close to Morro do Couto and the entrance to that area and, with the vegetation dry, spread quickly. Still according to the concessionaire, its teams and those from ICMBio were mobilized immediately.
Visitation suspended
Due to the fire, visitation to the upper part of the Itatiaia National Park (PNI) is suspended until this Monday (17), and the opening activities of the Mountain Season (ATM), scheduled for this weekend, were cancelled.
“The well-being of everyone and conservation are priorities in PNI’s activities, which is why there are no conditions for holding the event. All the efforts of the PNI team and partners are focused on controlling and mitigating the effects of the fire,” the concessionaire said in a statement.
Park
The Itatiaia National Park is located in Serra da Mantiqueira, in the municipalities of Itatiaia and Resende, in the state of Rio, and Bocaina de Minas and Itamonte, in Minas Gerais, close to the border with São Paulo, close to the Presidente Dutra Highway. The relief is characterized by mountains and rocky elevations, with altitudes between 600m and 2,791m. The highest point is Pico das Agulhas Negras.
#Firefighting #Itatiaia #Park #continues #sight