started · updated
Alter do Chão APA suffers large-scale wildfire in Santarém
A large-scale wildfire struck the Alter do Chão Environmental Protection Area (APA) in Santarém, Pará, starting on Friday, October 30. The fire affected savanna and forest areas near Lago Verde, prompting a massive response from the Pará Military Fire Department, the Alter do Chão Brigade, and the Municipal Secretariat of Environment (Semma).
While authorities reported that the two largest fire fronts were controlled during the early hours of Saturday, October 31, officials warned that the fire is not fully extinguished. Small residual hotspots remain, which could reignite due to heat and wind. The firefighting operation included the use of Air Tractor aircraft for water drops and support from Ibama, Prevfogo, and the Tapajós Brigade Network.
Local authorities, including Colonel Celso Piquet of the Fire Department, have raised suspicions of criminal activity, noting that the fire occurred in a green, non-dry forest area isolated by water. The Santarém municipality has declared a state of emergency due to forest fires and declining air quality, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon. Civil and Military police have been called to investigate the origin of the blaze.
Entities
Alter do Chão Environmental Protection Area · Celso Piquet · IBAMA · Implurb · Manaus · Municipal Guard of Manaus · Pará Military Fire Department · Santarém · Zé Maria Tapajós
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The El Niño phenomenon is contributing to the risk of forest fires in the region. 99fm.dol.com.br · www1.folha.uol.com.br
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ibama provided six aircraft, two helicopters, and 70 brigadiers to assist in firefighting. 99fm.dol.com.br · www1.folha.uol.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] The fire occurred in a green, non-dry forest area. brasilemfolhas.com.br · exame.com · oglobo.globo.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The municipality of Santarém has declared a state of emergency due to forest fires and air quality impacts. 99fm.dol.com.br · www1.folha.uol.com.br · dol.com.br
- [● 5 SOURCES] Authorities suspect the fire may have been caused by criminal action. brasilemfolhas.com.br · www.acessa.com · mauaagora.com.br · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · exame.com
- [● 12 SOURCES] A large wildfire hit the Alter do Chão Environmental Protection Area in Santarém, Pará. 99fm.dol.com.br · www.acessa.com · brasilemfolhas.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · plantao24horasnews.com.br · +7 more
- [● 12 SOURCES] The fire was controlled during the early hours of Saturday, October 31. 99fm.dol.com.br · www.acessa.com · brasilemfolhas.com.br · mauaagora.com.br · plantao24horasnews.com.br · +7 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] One of the fire lines controlled was approximately 1.4 km long. 99fm.dol.com.br · www1.folha.uol.com.br · dol.com.br