MASSIVE BLAZE ENGULFS 20% OF BRASÍLIA’S NATIONAL FOREST, SPARKED BY SUSPECTED ARSONISTS

Fri 06 September 2024:

A destructive wildfire has ravaged about 20% of the National Forest of Brasília, blanketing Brazil’s capital with grey-white smoke. Officials suspect the fire was started by arsonists. This forest, spanning over 5,600 hectares, is a critical conservation area, supplying over 70% of the city’s freshwater.

Firefighters Battle to Contain Blaze Amid Growing Concerns

“We have put out three of the four blazes, and we hope to have the fire under control by the end of the day,” said Fabio dos Santos Miranda, who oversees the forest. Miranda stated that although they suspect environmental crime, they have yet to confirm if the fire was started intentionally. Three potential arsonists were spotted near the fire’s origin.

The fire has also put nearby orchards in jeopardy, with local farmers fearing for their tomato and flower crops. “We are working to protect the orchards,” said fireman Major Godoy, though he warned that strong winds were pushing the fire toward them, spreading sparks over long distances.

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Fire Count Hits 14-Year High in Brazil Amid Drought and Climate Crisis

Brazil is facing a surge in wildfires, with data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) revealing over 38,000 fires detected in August alone — more than double the number seen in 2023. This marks the highest number of fires for August in over a decade, as Brazil grapples with its second year of severe drought.

Helga Correa, a conservation expert at WWF-Brasil, noted that August’s wildfires were driven by a combination of human action, climate change, and unfavorable weather. “The region where we detected concentrated smoke in August coincides with the so-called Arch of Deforestation, which includes the north of Rondonia, the south of Amazonas, and the southwest of Para,” Correa explained. Dry conditions in this typically wet biome make it susceptible to fires, often sparked by cattle ranching and the conversion of forests into pastures.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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