Satellite images show the progress of fires in preservation areas in Mato Grosso | National newspaper

The Chapada dos Guimarães fire is located in a state protection area. The trails were closed, this is the case of a waterfall circuit that burns this Wednesday (16).

In a region of the Chapada valleys, it is fire hunting season. After controlling the larger flames, crews must enter the forest in search of smaller flames that, if left behind, could start new fires.

“It is very exhausting and exhausting work. Besides doing direct combat of the flames, you have to go back, do all the sequels, as you can see. Various flammable materials, dry wood that has been burning for several days, ”explains Sergeant Ribeiro.

Satellite images show the progress of the outbreaks. On August 14, the region was green, without fire. In the following days, the red flames spread. As of September 13, they had already taken over almost half the area.

The data are from the Centro de Vida Institute, which studies the impact of fire in Mato Grosso. In a new projection, now in the Encontro das Águas State Park, in the Pantanal, the situation is even worse. On July 20, the flames appeared in small spots; then they advanced through the park; and on September 13, the fire had already taken over almost the entire place, which is a sanctuary for jaguars and birds.

According to Ibama, fires have already reached 20% of the Pantanal this year, an area equivalent to ten times the cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte combined.

A photo shows what the Transpantaneira Highway was like before the fires. Another shows what it looked like after the fire.

On Wednesday, the federal government recognized an emergency situation in Mato Grosso and announced the transfer of R $ 10 million to fight the fire.