August fires increased by 780% compared to last year
- JornalCana
- Apr 7
- 6 min read
Data presented by Canaoeste and GMG Ambiental indicate 658,638 hectares of burned areas in August this year in the State of São Paulo, with 328,248 hectares on August 23 alone
In August, the state of São Paulo recorded 658,638 hectares of burned areas, 328,248 hectares of which were recorded on August 23rd alone. This month, 11,628 fire outbreaks were recorded in the state, an increase of 227% compared to the historical average expected for the month, which is around 3,550 outbreaks. Compared to the same period last year, there was a 780% increase in outbreaks compared to the same period last year.
The data was mapped by Orion, a climate management system created by GMG Ambiental, which monitors fires, deforestation, hybrid scarcity and climate disasters through orbital satellite images. GMG Ambiental is a partner of Canaoeste, which has been monitoring fires in the areas of sugarcane farmers associated with the entity since 2017.
To transmit this information and discuss other issues related to the fires, Canaoeste brought together producers, mills, researchers, public authorities and environmentalists this Thursday morning, the 26th.
Almir Torcato, manager of Canaoeste, emphasized the importance of the meeting to discuss the interests of producers and present real data on the sugar-ethanol sector. He highlighted the evolution of the sector, which went from sugar-alcohol to bioenergy, where sugarcane is used to generate electricity. Torcato stressed the need to update the public's understanding of this transformation, mentioning that many people still associate production with the burning of sugarcane, a practice that has already been completely eradicated in the State of São Paulo. He asked for the support of institutions and the press to clarify the reality of the sector and stated that, despite the challenges, the production chain will rise again with respect and truth.
According to the analysis carried out by the environmental crisis management platform, in the month of August, 11,628 fire outbreaks were recorded in the state, an increase of 227% compared to the historical average expected for the month, which is around 3,550 outbreaks. Compared to the same period last year, there was a 780% increase in outbreaks compared to the same period last year.
This was the highest number of fires recorded in a month of August, since the fire management service was started by GMG Ambiental.
Most of the outbreaks, 354 in total, are concentrated in the municipality of Pitangueiras, but other cities were also affected, such as Altinópolis, with 252 outbreaks, and Sertãozinho, with 296 outbreaks.
The state's sugarcane region was the most affected by fires in the last month. Almost 100% of the cities that registered 100 or more fires were located in areas where the main agricultural crop was sugarcane, according to Olivaldi Azedo, environmental consultant at GMG.
Heat waves are becoming more persistent, intense and constant, a situation that could lead to new fire records in the coming years.
Fires in the period from August 20 to 24, 2024
At the press conference we presented the case study of August 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24, the period in which most of the fires occurred.
The meteorological assessment carried out during this period clearly showed the extreme risk of fires due to the ideal climatic conditions for the fire to spread: the so-called Triple 30 – an index that takes into account the sum of three factors: humidity below 30%, wind speed above 30 km/h and temperature above 30 degrees.
These factors, when combined, create a critical scenario, as is the case on August 23 – gusty winds of 38 to 40 km/h; maximum temperature of 35 degrees; and minimum humidity of 10%.
The August fires’ rise and loss of control was caused by the advance of a strong cold front that encountered a hot, dry air mass over the state of São Paulo, and which received an influx of more heat and dry air from the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso. “The vanguard of the front brought favorable conditions for the occurrence of Triple 30, erratic winds, rising temperatures, and occasional dust storms, etc. These conditions favored the intensification of the fires,” explained environmental consultant Olivaldi Azevedo.
Monitoring the advance of cold fronts is of paramount importance for preventing and fighting fires. Other events like this are likely to occur, as heat waves are increasingly being recorded in the Central region of Brazil.
According to the expert, “in La Niña years, the possibility of events like these repeating themselves is greater, as cold fronts tend to move more quickly, thus destabilizing the air masses located at their forefront.”
According to GMG Ambiental CEO Marcelo Ferraz, in the beginning, during the platform adjustment phase in 2016, the first fire was identified in 8 hours; in 2017, we already had data in 10 minutes and today we have real-time reports. “It is very important to have a broader view of the scenario and analyze forecasts, such as Tripo 30, an index developed by GMG Ambiental to measure fire risk,” he explained.
Orplana CEO José Guilherme Nogueira highlighted the challenges faced by the sugarcane sector, especially due to the fires that have occurred in recent months. He distinguished controlled burning from unwanted fires, emphasizing that these fires have structural and cyclical causes, aggravated by extreme weather conditions. Nogueira mentioned that the climate has changed significantly, affecting sugarcane production and quality, and criticized the idea that producers benefit from the fires. He stressed the need for effective public policies and a better understanding of the reality of the sector, pointing out that Brazil has low greenhouse gas emissions and has been advancing in the energy transition.
Maurílio Biagi, representative of COSAG/FIESP, emphasized the importance of information to combat misinformation about the fires. He criticized the lack of preparation of governments to deal with these fires, stating that holding producers responsible is “a total lack of knowledge of the reality of the sector”. Biagi highlighted the need for more efficient communication. He also spoke about Brazil’s growth as a food powerhouse, emphasizing that the country faces both internal and external challenges, and defended sugarcane as a clean source of energy.
During the meeting, Diógenes Kassaoka, Undersecretary of Supply and Food Security for the State of São Paulo, stressed the importance of collaboration between good producers and authorities in fighting fires. He highlighted the work of the Civil Defense and the need to improve the firefighting structure in São Paulo, mentioning the lack of adequate aircraft. Kassaoka praised the sugarcane sector for its progress in transforming biomass into energy and called for better communication about these advances to society. He also thanked the productive sector for its quick response during the fires and committed to supporting future initiatives through the Department of Agriculture.
Ciro Pena, from the FAESP/SENAR System, highlighted the importance of the event as a meeting point between the public and private sectors, including the Department of Agriculture and Civil Defense. He represented the Agriculture Federation of the State of São Paulo, which includes 230 rural unions and is present in all regions of the state. Pena emphasized that fires are a problem that affects the entire rural sector, not just sugarcane. According to him, it is necessary to evolve practices and protocols in light of climate change. He praised the work of Canaoeste and reaffirmed the federation's willingness to collaborate with the sector, continuing a legacy of support and development.
Renata Camargo, UNICA’s sustainability manager, highlighted the need to not only combat but also prevent fires, using technologies such as satellite images and cameras. Renata emphasized that fires in sugarcane fields cause economic, environmental and health damage, and that the sector no longer uses fire as an agricultural method. She mentioned the expectation of changes in public policies, recognizing that other sectors must also be committed to preventing fires.
Regarding the quantification of losses, Canaoeste executive manager Almir Torcato said it was still too early to make this type of analysis. “Many factors, such as the deterioration of sugarcane and the investment needed for replanting, are still unclear,” he said. For him, the focus now should be on reconstruction and technical support for producers. Torcato also mentioned that the main loss is the image of the sector, affected by erroneous information in the press. “The real production sector no longer sets fires. The sector is bioenergy, we use sugarcane straw to generate electricity and there would be no reason or cause to set fire to the sugarcane field, which you would put inside the boiler to generate money,” Torcato emphasized.
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