Firefighters and environmentalists meet in Brazil for first international event of its kind

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Modern equipment for fighting forest and agricultural fires is being demonstrated in Brazil’s capital Brasilia. The event is taking place at a crucial time, as a new fire outbreak is registered every three minutes, as in Minas Gerais. Unfortunately, fires continue to occur almost everywhere in the country.

The event, aimed at firefighters and environmentalists, will feature speakers from Brazil, Canada, the United States, Australia, and Portugal. Vehicles will be on display on the show floor, focusing on vehicles with onboard technologies and easy mobility.

“We will show the UTV 4×4, a vehicle never before seen in Brazil for hard-to-reach areas that require rapid firefighting,” explains Marius Guirado, director of ÊxitoFire, an equipment company. “The first outbreaks need to be fought quickly, and large trucks cannot reach the land because there is no road, for example,” Guirado says.

Also highlighted are the flexible tanks, both the portable ones for use in airplanes and those for mobility on land, which is installed in pickup trucks.

Another novelty is the carts that can be pulled by any vehicle and are ideal for farms and urban forest parks. “This is because the tanks are always charged and ready for use; all you have to do is plug them in and go,” Guirado explains.

The carts are equipped with pumps to dispense water, foam, and all kinds of products used in firefighting.

The most advanced carts have an exclusive axle system that leaves the wheels free to negotiate rough terrain. Another innovation in the trolleys is the rotating trailer hitch, which reduces the risk of tipping over.

Other technologies, especially portable ones, will also be on display at the show. Such is the case with the “fire extinguisher backpack.” With a dual-action pump attached to the backpack, with a capacity of up to 21 liters, firefighters can quickly extinguish the first outbreaks of various types of fires.

The pump works in both directions, so it reduces operator effort without interrupting the fight. There are also new features such as the lumbar support, which provides greater comfort.

Also on display are tools such as silencers, sickles, and 4×1 swords that allow firefighters to open small firebreaks and quickly cut through wire fences.

In times of drought, fire departments often have difficulty obtaining water because reservoirs are low. That’s why a pump was developed to collect water from small bodies of water. “With the floating pump, we can collect water from any body of water, no matter how small,” Guirado says.

THE BIGGEST FIRES IN BRAZIL’S HISTORY.

“In 2020, the largest forest fires in Brazil’s history were recorded, and the trend is that this type of event is becoming more common in Brazilian biomes. To protect our forests, it is urgent to establish joint actions and prevention protocols.

The experience of other countries with the tradition of such disasters will certainly be an important tool to accelerate the process of improving our services to society,” said Colonel Renato Paim, Undersecretary of Public Security at the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP).

Brazil is a global showcase when it comes to forests and food production. Nevertheless, large-scale slash-and-burn is becoming increasingly common. The seminar is held to reverse this situation and disseminate techniques and equipment to combat it.

Organized by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), the “1st International Seminar on Forest Fire Management” will be held from September 14 to 17. It is the first event of the National Journey for Public Security and Social Defense (Jonasp).

The event will include meetings with different topics in all regions of Brazil. The program will also include webinars with debaters who will address different issues related to public security.

“The Jonasp aims to achieve greater integration between federal, state, and local governments. We are also aware of successful public safety experiences in Brazil and other countries. This exchange of information can even lead to the extension of certain experiences to the rest of the country,” said Secretary Renato Paim.

The 1st International Seminar on Forest Fire Fighting will be held at the Auditorium of the Academy of Military Firefighters of the Federal District and aims to bring together professionals in the field of forest fire fighting from different sectors of state and federal governments to share best practices and experiences and discuss new techniques and procedures for managing this type of disaster.

LOCATION: Federal District Military Fire Academy. – CBMDF.

Address: police sector, special area 3, SHCS, zip code 70602-900.