Fire in Rio Grande Do Sul A Recurring Problem By Marcos Antonio Camargo
When I started writing this article, we were contacted for another firefighting operation in the fields of the West Frontier of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil. Our teams are already moving to the “operational theatre,” having already been involved in this mission for over two days. Unlike aerial fighting in the winter months in other parts of Brazil, the fires occurring during the summertime here in southern Brazil are unusual. In an article in our sister publication, AgAir Update, I wrote about the different crops covering our fields in spring. Today, except for irrigated rice fields, the predominant cover is that of dry vegetation, burned and buffeted by an intense heatwave that can bring maximums close to 50ºC/122ºF this time of year. In January, our neighbor, Argentina, faced its fourth hottest day in 115 years since the National Meteorological Service of Argentina started recording data. The drought in the South and the excess rain in the Midwest and North have led to extreme weather events. The heatwave has kept the temperature above 40ºC/104ºF in the southern states of Brazil, and according to the Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives of the State of Rio AF 52 | aerialfiremag.com
Grande do Sul, 159 municipalities are already in an emergency status due to the drought that started in November. Estimates put financial losses in soybean and corn crops in the order of $19.8 billion, just in this state alone.
Difficulties In Combat This problem occasionally occurs throughout the year but has started to reoccur on a more regular basis. When this happens, our agricultural aircraft are activated for firefighting duties, mainly by growers, to help contain fires to minimize the damage to fields, crops, homes and rural facilities. There have already been fires close to the city. Fighting fires in this area does not come without its challenges and problems. Inadequate runways for the operation of larger aircraft and delays in fire dispatching have made some incidents very difficult to control.
In The Beginning, It Is Always Easier A few years ago, to solve this problem, I suggested to a representative of the municipal legislature that he spearhead a project to allocate resources to combat aerial firefighting issues in the city and the countryside more effectively.
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Unlike aerial fighting in the winter months in other parts of Brazil, the fires occurring during the summertime here in southern Brazil are unusual. ” —Marcos Antonio Camargo
