Fires in Brasil: The other side of the mountain

There is a small newspaper in Águas da Prata called Jornal Pratense. I expected to see some commentary and maybe some pictures of this massive fire. There was no mention of it at all. There was no mention of how the fire started and if there was to be any kind of investigation.

So I set about to show just a little of the aftermath. Here is a small collection of photos showing how widespread the fire was.

This pic was taken from the highway to Poços de Caldas.

This side of the mountain was completely burned. Most of the fire was of grasses and some trees. Trees were not completely consumed.

In the distance you can see the entire mountainside was burned.

There is a small farm in this pic. The fire came almost to the farmhouse. The railroad track is between the farmhouse and the edge of the burn.

A train came through at 10:00 p.m. the night of the fire. It must have been a spectacular trip because the train came through as the fire was at its height of burning, right up to the train tracks.

This is near Cascatinha. The fire must have started around here. There is no official statement yet but it is possible there is a pyromaniac in Águas da Prata that set off the fire.

On the north end of the mountain there are houses right beside the train tracks. This view is from one block further away. From here the sound of the fire was deafening. The entire mountainside here was aflame.

Maybe we will get some official word about the fire. One thing of note is the firefighters come from São João da Boa Vista. Due to a difference of opinion with our current mayor they do not respond to fire calls from Águas da Prata.

However when homes are threatened, as they were here, they do come if the home owner calls for help.

Surely there can be a better plan of support here!

There are elections coming up next month. Maybe the new administration can come to a better arrangement with the firefighters.

Photos by Urso Branco