Two fires have hit the Lago Piratuba Biological Reserve, in the east of the state of Amapá, in the northern region of Brazil. One of the fires has spread to eight kilometres and has mobilised ICMBio and Ibama firefighters with the support of the Brazilian Navy. The dry season in the Amazon, combined with the burning of pastures, has caused the problem. The firefighters from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation and Ibama are struggling to open trenches to prevent the flames from spreading due to the large amount of peat in the region, an organic material that can easily be consumed by the flames. According to ICMBio, the fire started on a farm neighbouring the reserve. A Brazilian Navy aircraft is assisting the teams working in the field. Marines have been deployed from a base in Belém, Pará, to help transport the firefighters.

Source: Amazon Agency