São Paulo state declares emergency in three cities as fire risk spikes

Human activity is responsible for nine out of ten forest fires in São Paulo state, according to the state Civil Defense. The agency warned that the dry season, high temperatures, low humidity and strong winds will create conditions for rapid fire spread.

On Saturday, the municipalities of Barretos, Ribeirão Preto and Franca were placed under a state of emergency, the highest alert level, while other areas such as Andradina, Presidente Prudente, Bauru and Campinas remain under red alert. A cold front is expected to bring clouds and light rain later in the weekend, which should lower the fire danger.

The Civil Defense repeated safety advice: avoid open fires, discard cigarettes properly, do not release balloons (a punishable environmental crime), and only use fire with CETESB authorization. Last year the state increased penalties for illegal burning, raising fines to R$ 3,000 per hectare and up to double for severe cases, especially on indigenous lands.