Fire hits Serra das Confusões National Park – 10/23/2023 – Environment

A forest fire in the Serra das Confusões National Park, in Piauí, was controlled by firefighters this Monday (23). The flames came close to visiting areas in the rural area of ​​Caracol, in the interior of the state, 605 km from Teresina.

The fire began to spread last week in the interior of Bahia, in a region close to the border with Piauí. The Piauí city of Cristino Castro was also affected.

The fire line between the municipalities of Alvorada do Gurguéia and Cristino Castro, which reached almost 10 km, was reduced to 1.5 km this Monday.

In Caracol, which borders the state of Bahia, the fire is also under control. Thus, in the two points affected by the flames within the Serra das Confusões National Park, the fire is classified as controlled by firefighters, although it has not yet been completely extinguished.

In addition to the Fire Department, teams from Ibama and ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation) operate in the region.

“The teams that are participating in these actions depend heavily on climatic factors at the moment, such as wind and temperature, so that the fires can be completely extinguished”, says the Piauí Fire Department.

According to the corporation, the fire approached the park entrance on Sunday night (22). Work was suspended overnight and resumed on Monday morning.

A truck carrying 600 liters of water and a high-pressure hose assist larger vehicles. Since the fire affects regions that are difficult to access, it has also been necessary to transport water by a Piauí Military Police helicopter.

The fire first reached the rural area of ​​Campo Alegre de Lourdes, in the interior of Bahia, and then advanced to the neighboring state.

The Serra das Confusões National Park is the largest natural reserve in the caatinga and the largest park of its kind in the Northeast. The site has around 823 thousand hectares.

The conservation unit covers 11 cities: Alvorada do Gurguéia, Bom Jesus, Brejo do Piauí, Canto do Buriti, Caracol, Cristino Castro, Curimatá, Guaribas, Jurema, Redenção do Gurgueia, Santa Luz and Tamboril do Piauí.

On the 14th, forest fires hit areas of Chapada Diamantina, in Bahia. At least 14 cities were affected, according to the Bahia Fire Department. Other areas in the western and northern regions of the state were also affected.