Fire advances and residents report respiratory problems

The Pantanal in Mato Grosso is suffering from an increase in fires that are devastating thousands of hectares of forest. Since the beginning of the year, around 3,000 fires have been detected in the region. In total, 661,000 hectares of forest have been destroyed by the flames, according to a report by the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).

Residents have been seeking medical attention complaining of symptoms related to smoke inhalation, with the most common symptoms including nausea, difficulty breathing, eye irritation and headache. Surrounded by fires and unable to leave their homes, distressed residents are waiting for public policies to solve the problem.

In an interview with G1, the population exposes the difficulties of daily life, the civil servant Iolanda Victorio da Silva Filha, 59 years old, complained of feeling like she was in the middle of the fire, even though she was inside her room. As the fire intensified, she has frequent asthma attacks, has been using inhalers every day and keeps the environment at home humidified, as advised by her doctor.

An impressive scene that caught the attention of Brazil was a large expanse of forest burning and forming a wall of fire. The images went viral on social media and brought to light the problem that the population is facing daily. What caused astonishment was the holding of the traditional Arraial do Banho de São João festival while in the background, the forest was being devastated by fire.

The biome is facing a historic drought, with the advance of the fire and the dry climate causing the government to increase the hiring of firefighters and aircraft to help fight the flames, in addition to the ban on burning during the period.

_{Fires appear alongside birds' nests (Photo: reproduction/AFP Florian Plaucheur/Getty Images Embed)}

Causes of fires

Fires can be caused by lightning or reflections from glass, which when affecting a dry area can trigger large fires, however, the majority of fires are caused by man to clean and renew pastures for the social and economic development of the region. .

However, for the fire to not get out of control, it is necessary to use safety techniques so that the fire does not exceed barriers such as the construction of firebreaks. Such measures are essential to avoid an environmental tragedy.

It is estimated that 300 brigades from IBAMA and ICMBIO are working on the combat front. At the beginning of the month, the government announced that the hiring of more professionals would be simplified to help with the operation.

_{Fire in the Pantanal/Corumbá (Photo: reproduction/AFP Pablo Porciuncula/Getty Images Embed)}

Consequences of the fires

The main consequences of the fires are undoubtedly the loss of local biodiversity, exterminating all fauna and flora and animals such as birds, reptiles, mammals, fish and insects.

The fires bring soot and smoke that asphyxiate fauna species and increase the level of greenhouse gases, generating various respiratory diseases in humans.

In addition to environmental damage, the dry fog that hangs in the air darkens the skies, causing other problems for commercial aviation due to the loss of visibility.

Featured photo: View of the fires in the Pantanal (Reproduction/Pablo Porciuncula/Getty Images Embed)