A severe fire has affected vegetation in the Masiambu Pass in the Serra do Tabuleiro State Park in Palos in Greater Florianopolis. Firefighters were called to put out the fire on Saturday (2) at around 2:22 p.m. It took more than 24 hours to extinguish the fire. Firefighters estimate that about 150 hectares were damaged by the fire.
According to the Santa Catarina Military Fire Service, crews managed to extinguish the fire around 6:00 pm on Sunday (3). In addition to firefighters, the incident also involved the PMA (Environmental Military Police), the Serra do Tabuleiro State Park brigade and the Águia helicopter from the PMSC (Military Police of Santa Catarina).
Difficulties in extinguishing a fire
Crews battling the fire had difficulty reaching the fires as the flames reached a swampy area where vegetation reached firefighters’ waists.
According to CBMSC Captain Wagner Kardal, access was very difficult. “This is a swampy region. The vegetation is dense and of medium size, but since it was flooded, movement was very difficult. To be able to fight, everything becomes more difficult,” he explains.
The captain also emphasized that the terrain was uneven, with several holes. “There were places where the swamp was a little deeper,” he points out.
Cardil also stressed that the lack of access for trucks makes work difficult. “There was a water fight with the help of Águia (PMSC aircraft), but if it was possible to run a hose to the fire, it would have been much easier. We had to fight through scouts, with difficult movement,” the captain explained.
Firefighters are having difficulty extinguishing fires that have damaged vegetation at Masiambu Crossing – Video: CBMSC/Disclosure/ND
About 150 hectares are engulfed in fire
According to firefighters and the IMA (Institute of the Environment), the fire is estimated to have reached an area of 150 hectares, damaging dormant vegetation.
This place is home to animals such as turtles and tortoises, wild dogs, wild cats, tapirs, hedgehogs, coral snakes, vine snakes, tegu lizards, yellow-spotted caimans and several other bird species.
More than 24 hours of operation
It took more than 24 hours of work to fight the fire, which affected the vegetation.
Work to extinguish the fire, which began on Saturday afternoon, continued early Sunday morning with the help of firefighters from Biguaçu, Rancho Queimado, Santo Amaro da Imperatriz and Palos.
Over the course of Sunday, the three teams split up to strategic points mapped by the Águia-02 helicopter.
A total of 36 specialists worked at the site, including 12 firefighters, 19 PMA employees and five from the Park Brigade.
Starting a fire in a forest or forest is a crime.
The captain said it is not yet known what caused the fire. Despite this, firefighters have warned that setting fires in woods or forests is a crime.
“A forest fire is an out-of-control fire in any vegetation, be it in the forest, plantations or pastures. In most cases they are caused by human actions. Forest fires are a crime and lead to a decrease in biodiversity, changes in fauna, decreased air humidity, increased pollution and material losses,” emphasizes CBMSC.
According to the fire department, from January to August 2023, 1,853 vegetation fires were extinguished. Although this number is lower than in 2022, when 2,081 incidents were resolved, the corporation believes this is still a large number.
Source: Ndmais