Municipalities with forest fire emergencies up 354% in August

The number of municipalities that have declared emergency situations due to forest fires in August grew by 354 percent compared to the same month in 2023, as per a survey by the National Confederation of Municipalities.

This month alone, 118 municipal decision-makers have registered the situation with the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development.

About 4.4 million people have been affected by forest fires this year, with the majority affected by consequences, including air pollution and loss of biodiversity - Marcelo Camargo/Agência Brasil

Until August 26, 167 municipalities had declared a situation of emergency this year. In the same period in 2023, only 57 had faced the problem.

According to the survey, 4.4 million people have been affected by forest fires this year, with the majority (4 million) affected by consequences, including air pollution and loss of biodiversity.

The largest number of decrees was registered in São Paulo, by 51 municipalities, followed by Mato Grosso do Sul, with 35; Acre, with 22; Espírito Santo and Rondônia, two municipalities; and Amazonas, Bahia, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Rio de Janeiro, and Santa Catarina, just one municipality each.

So far, the system shows that the federal government has recognized a forest fire emergency in 12 municipalities in Mato Grosso do Sul. The other cases are still outstanding, so that managers can access federal public funds for emergency measures.

The National Confederation of Municipalities estimates a loss of BRL 10 million in emergency assistance for public health, which could still grow with the impacts caused by the people’s exposure to the smoke.