Fighting forest fires in Brazil

Abstract

Fire has been used in Brazil for many years, but the increased use of this tool, combined with natural events and the presence of large forest and agricultural areas, has led to a significant jump in the number of forest fires, most of them caused by accident. To optimize existing resources and to cope with growing demand, action levels were adopted according to the size and complexity of the incident and priorities for fighting forest fires were also set. As part of the attack readiness strategies, the Integrated Multi-agency Operational Coordination Centers (known as CIMANs in Brazil) were established in several Brazilian states, as well as the national CIMAN that involves the participation of the Ministry of the Environment, National Civil Defense, National Public Safety Force, the National Indian Foundation, the Brazilian Institute of the Environment, the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation and fire departments. The main objective of the integration of response agencies is to better manage human and material resources available to fight forest fires, resulting in a reduction in response time between detection and initial attack.

Parent Publication

• Proceedings of the fourth international symposium on fire economics, planning, and policy: climate change and wildfires

Citation

de Morais, José Carlos Mendes. 2013. Fighting forest fires in Brazil. In: González-Cabán, Armando, tech. coord. Proceedings of the fourth international symposium on fire economics, planning, and policy: climate change and wildfires. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-245 (English). Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: 179-190.