Mato Grosso launches $134 million fire‑fighting operation for dry season

The state of Mato Grosso in Brazil began its dry‑season fire‑prevention period on 1 July, enforcing a ban on any use of fire in the Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal biomes until 30 November. To counter the heightened risk of forest fires, the state government allocated R$ 134 million for an expanded firefighting structure.

The operation, unveiled at a ceremony in Cuiabá, includes about 85 fire‑service vehicles, the hiring of 150 brigadists, deployment of support aircraft, and a newly‑acquired river‑crossing unit positioned in the Pantanal. Commanded by Colonel Flávio Glêdson Vieira Bezerra and supported by Governor Otaviano Pivetta, the plan emphasizes rapid response, intensified monitoring, and stricter enforcement, warning that illegal fire use constitutes a crime punishable by imprisonment and fines.