Another Fire in Águas da Prata

On New Years Eve we went to Poços de Caldas to see the fireworks there. See our Blog "Natal no Brasil" at http://natalnobrasil.blogspot.com view the post "Happy New Year 2008 - Fireworks in Poços de Caldas".

The fireworks there were spectacular. We had no idea that fireworks had turned bad back home in Águas da Prata.

This is the scene we were greeted with when we arrived home at 3 a.m. This hillside in front of our home was ablaze.

There was a line of small fires going up the mountain and over the top. The line was an arc of small fires (at least 40 of them) spaced a meter or two apart. The fires were getting quite vigorous when we arrived home. (Note: It is difficult to take Nightime photos of fires)





The next day we woke up to see the entire hillside devasted.





These are views from the street of how much had burned.

















Here is a view from the top. You can see the fires started into the coffee trees before it stopped.





I estimate about 100 coffee trees were effected.



The fire was uncomfortably close to these very large cane fields.




Although there was no definite proof the fires were started by fireworks, and I am not an expert, but I found lots of bits and pieces of skyrocket all over the place the next day.

An important thing to be aware of is that the nearest Fire Department Troop is in São João da Boa Vista. I am told they no longer respond to fire calls from Águas da Prata because of some dispute with our Mayor. So we have no fire fighting defences at all. That just is not very encouraging.


Photos by Urso Branco