Palmas, Brazil Defense Civil battles forest fire in Taquaruçu

On Thursday, a forest fire erupted on the hillside of Taquaruçu, a district of Palmas in Brazil's Tocantins state, with flames moving toward nearby homes.

Four members of the Palmas Defense Civil responded, using a blower and a portable pump to combat the blaze for roughly 40 minutes. A local resident helped by directing the team to the most critical spots, and the fire was contained without reported injuries.

The incident adds to a surge of fire alerts this dry season; the Defense Civil logged 20 fire‑related calls that week, including eight on a single day. Authorities advise residents to keep vegetation cleared, maintain firebreaks of three to ten metres, avoid open‑flame activities, and call 153 for immediate assistance.