Brazilian Government Records Decrease in Fire Outbreaks in the Amazon

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Operation Verde Brasil (Green Brazil), which gathered several agencies to fight fires in the Legal Amazon area, has recorded a decrease in the number of fires in recent days. Although there is still no confirmation of this trend for the coming days, the government’s assessment so far is positive.

According to data from the CENSIPAM (Management and Operational Center of the Amazon Protection System), there were widespread and more intense fires, particularly in Rondônia, Amapá, Pará, and Maranhão between August 25th and 26th. In the survey carried out between August 26th and 27th, the hotspot map showed a reduction, particularly in Rondônia, where fire-fighting personnel was reinforced.

In Rondônia, the number of fires was reduced from 400 when the operation began to 24. However, Gabriel Zacharia, head of the Prevfogo Specialized Center of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), alerts that efforts must be continued. Zacharia explained that the fires have diminished but are not extinguished and that more time is needed to confirm the trend.

Last Friday, August 23rd, president Jair Bolsonaro authorized the use of the Armed Forces to fight fires in the region. The Decree of Guarantee of Law and Order (GLO) is valid for border areas, indigenous lands in federal units of environmental conservation and other areas within Legal Amazon.

Over 3,900 people are working in Legal Amazon, including military and fire brigade personnel, in addition to 205 vehicles. Brazil has also received international aid offers. Among them, Chile has offered specialized teams and three airplanes able to store 3,000 liters of water and two fire-fighting aircraft from the United States.

Israel offered 100 cubic meters of flame retardant chemical agent, and Ecuador provided three brigades of forest fire fighting specialists. According to Ralph Dias da Silveira, international aid is still to be implemented, which is expected to occur soon.