The firefighters in Rio de Janeiro were battling flames spreading through Brasilia National Park in Brazil on Monday. The fire has already burned through 4,942 acres of the conservation area, with four main fire fronts concentrated in the eastern region of the park, according to ICMBio, the government agency managing the park.
The rapid spread of the fire was attributed to high wind speeds, low humidity, and hot weather conditions, as stated by JoĂŁo Paulo Morita, an ICMBio fire management coordinator in a video released by the agency. Although the situation improved later in the day, fires were still present in the wooded areas near streams, requiring ongoing efforts to combat them.
To assist in extinguishing the flames, three aircraft were using water while a helicopter was deployed to monitor the burned areas, as per the ICMBio statement. The Federal Police are currently investigating the incident, confirming that the fire was caused by human activity. Fortunately, no injuries or animal rescues have been reported so far.
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Mauro Pires, the head of the agency, mentioned to Folha de S.Paulo that the fire likely started near the presidency’s countryside residence, causing smoke to cover Brasilia on Monday. The ongoing fires in Brazil, including those in the Amazon rainforest, Cerrado savanna, and Pantanal wetlands, have significantly impacted air quality due to the vast smoke dispersion.
Brazil is currently facing its worst drought in over seven decades, affecting 59% of the country’s landmass. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva expressed concern about the climate emergency and announced investigations into those responsible for environmental crimes. Additionally, Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino authorized extra funds for firefighting efforts to combat the forest fires.
