Federal Government recognizes an emergency situation in Mato Grosso do Sul

With the decision, the state will be able to have access to Union resources for relief actions and support to the population

Since the 25th of July, the Armed Forces have been active in fighting fires in the Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul - Photo: Ministry of Defense

Sep 15, The Federal Government recognized the emergency situation in Mato Grosso do Sul due to forest fires. The decision was published, this Monday (14th), in an extra edition, of the Official Gazette.

With the recognition, the state government will be able to have access to Union resources for relief actions, assistance, restoration of essential services to the population and recovery of damaged public infrastructure.

“The state will present work plans for aircraft rental, purchase of inputs for the Fire Department, for the brigadiers, hiring accommodation, hiring food for the fire workers. Anyway, everything that is possible, everything that is necessary to overcome this challenge ”, said the national secretary of Protection and Civil Defense, Colonel Alexandre Lucas, who has been in the region since the weekend and has already participated in meetings with representatives of state and federal agencies that are working on the site.

"We are here in Mato Grosso do Sul to bring the resources and technical support for the response to forest fires that have affected the Pantanal," he explained.

Armed forces

The Ministry of Defense reported that the Armed Forces have been active, since July 25, in fighting a fire in the Pantanal in Mato Grosso do Sul and that, on August 5, the actions were extended to Pantanal in Mato Grosso. Ministry of Defense responds to the request received by the two states.

Navy, Army and Air Force vessels and helicopters participate in the operation, in addition to Marines with a course in a forest fire. According to the ministry, in more than 40 days of operation, 14 aircraft are being used that account for around 335 flight hours. In addition, 40 vehicles and two vessels are being used to transport brigadiers and to dump water to contain the flames.

In addition to the Armed Forces, participating in the Operation: the Management and Operational Center for the Amazon Protection System (CENSIPAM), the Environmental Military Police of Mato Grosso do Sul, the Fire Departments of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, the Service Social Commerce (SESC) of Mato Grosso, the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).