At least two people have died and a total of 48 cities in Brazil’s State of São Paulo are under a “maximum” wildfire alert after arsonists started several fires across the state, according to government officials. More than 7,300 firefighters are working to stop the wildfires.
São Paulo State Government officials told Reuters that the two fatalities were government employees who were trying to fight one of the fires at an industrial plant in the city of Urupes. Officials did not share any further details.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva recently posted that the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources determined none of the fires were started by natural causes.
“This means that there are people setting fires illegally, since all states in the country have already been warned and have prohibited the use of managed fires,” Lula’s post said. “The Federal Police will investigate and the government will work with the states to combat the fires.”
São Paulo Governor Tarcísio de Freitas visited the city of Ribeirão Preto Sunday, one of the areas most affected by wildfires in the state. There, he announced the state government has partnered with Brazil’s military to increase airdrops throughout the state.
“In addition to three Military Police helicopters already involved in the operation, the Brazilian Air Force has sent a KC-390 aircraft and two helicopters to help combat the fires. Another 28 heavy vehicles, including Fire Department trucks, are being sent to the city,” the state government’s website said.
Brazil Environment Minister Marina Silva pleaded with arsonists to stop setting fire during a government meeting on Sunday, saying government resources can only fight the flames for so long.
“Even if the federal government and state governments put all their forces into fighting fires, people need to stop setting fires, otherwise they will harm the health and lives of people and animals,” Silva said, according to Lula. “This is an appeal we make.”
The southern area of Brazil isn’t the only region in the nation plagued by fire. The Pantanal in Brazil’s northern region is considered the world’s largest tropical wetland area and one of the most important areas of freshwater in the world. It has also seen an extremely busy wildfire season, with the repeated fires leaving the environment in a state of constant recovery — and nearby communities struggling.
READ MORE: World’s largest tropical wetland burned this year
Wildfires across South America increased in both intensity and frequency through the second half of July. The continent’s highest wildfire activity so far this year was in Bolivia and areas of the Brazilian Amazon. Brazilian authorities also estimated this was the worst July in two decades with more than 22,000 active wildfires. Wildfire increases occurred around two weeks earlier than usual during fire season in the region, which historically has peaked in August and September.
