What the Press Wrote!

Jornal do Povo

29 de Julho de 2006

Queimadas viram caso de policia na Prata

Incêndio provacado queimou 30 alqueires de mata, matou avestruzes e colocou casas em risco



Photos from Jornal do Povo




English Translation:

The Civil and Military Police are investigating the causes of the fire that started on Sunday and ended on Tuesday.

The fire started around 4:30 p.m. close to Pedreira Farm. From there the fire spread opening a V in the forest, burning the top of the mountain going behind the São Paulo Hotel coming from both sides.

Animals were seen running from the fire, people were desparate and afraid of the fire reaching their houses and also the Shell Gas Station with the fire behind a large bamboo grove.

There were moments of panic caused by criminals being sought by the police.

The fire got within 2 meters from the backyard of the houses located behind the São Paulo Hotel.

The damage wasn't worse because of the actions of the Military Police, the Firemen and the City Workers of Águas da Prata and a large force of others such as the São João da Boa Vista City Workers that came to help fight the fire.

The fire started to threaten the houses around 10:30 p.m. and then continued up the mountain burning until Tuesday burning 30 alqueires (360.6 Acres) killing Ostriches, pigs and cattle in the farms along its path.

In the district called Fonte Platina another criminal fire started on Monday and reached the Fazenda Avestruz da Prata (Ostrich Farm). It was seen at 11:30 a.m.

"They opened the farm gates to let the Ostriches free but they are fearful birds and let the fire approach closely," said Renato Padula, owner of the farm.

Sadly two birds were killed and six were severely injured.

The damage wasn't worse because the neighbours came to help fight the fire.

"It was horrible," said Renato. The trouble didn't end in Fonte Platina because every day there are people burning grasses in the grounds around town.

The material damage hasn't been calculated yet but the damage in the forests and area was felt by everyone.

On monday the town woke covered by soot from the fires, and the usual golden colour of sunrise was replaced by grey. The local medical centre received a record number of peiple with respiratory problems.

The dry weather made the problem worse. But, it is no excuse for the authorities lack of preparedness.

Secondly according to the press, the firemen didn't arrive until three hours after the fire started. Secondly Lieutenant Palmieri that attended this fire attends many other towns and all the vehicles were eleswhere. That is why they took so long to respond to calls for help.

Only when the panic of the residents of the houses close to the fire clogged the phone lines did help arrive.


I hope you found this blog interesting and informative. Some way we must all pursuade Brasilians to stop all this burning. There must be better ways such as harvesting the grasses and composting them rather than poluting the atmosphere and making people sick; ways that don't endanger farmers livestock and crops. We must also think of the wildlife and their habitat that was so carelessly and criminally destroyed. This must be stopped. Global warming is doing enough damage and it doesn't need us to make the situation worse.

Urso Branco