Brazil's Firefighters Battle Amazon Blazes and Arsonists
In Rondônia, Brazil, firefighters and police combat severe Amazon forest fires and arsonists amid extreme drought and criminal deforestation. Led by Lt. Col. Victor Paulo Rodrigues de Souza, the team at Rubber Soldier Ecological Station is overwhelmed by increasing fire outbreaks despite satellite technology. As deforestation rates fall under President Lula, experts urge stronger penalties against 'climate terrorism'.
In the remote jungle of Rondônia, Brazil, firefighters and police are battling intense forest fires and arsonists in one of the worst burning seasons in years.
The Amazon is ablaze due to extreme drought, climate change, and environmental criminal activities.
Lt Col Victor Paulo Rodrigues de Souza leads a team at the Rubber Soldier Ecological Station near Cujubim, a hotspot for illegal logging.
The town has seen escalating violence and ecological devastation, with arsonists using guerilla tactics to prevent firefighting efforts.
Despite technological aids like Starlink satellite dishes, the situation worsens, with daily fire outbreaks increasing dramatically.
The fires, mostly human-made, have already razed vast areas, driven by both climate conditions and a suspected criminal counterattack against government anti-deforestation policies.
President Lula's administration has reduced Amazon deforestation rates, but the battle continues as firefighters, like José Baldoíno of Prevfogo, work tirelessly to contain the infernos under harsh conditions.
Experts link the fires to El Niño and global temperature increases, calling for tougher penalties against the so-called 'climate terrorism'.