Monte Alegre in Pará Faces 26 Active Fires Threatening Homes and Ancient Archaeological Sites - World news

The municipality of Monte Alegre in western Pará is grappling with an extreme crisis involving 26 active forest fires. While rescue teams have shifted strategy to protect remaining homes after three were destroyed, the uncontrolled flames now pose a severe threat to internationally recognized archaeological sites containing millennia-old rock paintings.

Monte Alegre, located in the western region of Pará, is currently facing an extreme emergency with 26 active forest fires recorded by the city hall. The rapid advance of the flames has overwhelmed local rescue capabilities, forcing teams to alter their strategy. According to Jean Vasconcelos, the municipal secretary of Environment, the situation is critical. Three residences in the Açaizal and Boa Esperança communities have already been completely consumed by the fire. Consequently, firefighters and volunteers are now focusing exclusively on erecting protective barriers to prevent further destruction of family homes rather than attempting to extinguish the uncontrolled rural flames.

The impact extends beyond residential areas into the agricultural sector. Producers in the Ipixuna area have reported significant losses, including the death of livestock and the total destruction of pastures, which has made cattle raising unviable. Additionally, the dense smoke generated by the fires has triggered an immediate surge in medical consultations in Monte Alegre due to respiratory crises among the population.

The environmental crisis has also raised alarms within the scientific community regarding the safety of local heritage. Claide de Paula Moraes, an archaeologist and professor at the Federal University of Western Pará (Ufopa), expressed deep concern over the risk of destroying archaeological sites known internationally for their ancient rock paintings. The fire is advancing toward the Cauçu community, situated along the highway connecting Santana do Tapará to Monte Alegre. Since Sunday, community leader Tacilo has coordinated a group of residents attempting to control a large forest fire approaching these historical areas. Moraes, who monitors preservation efforts alongside experts from the Emílio Goeldi Museum, warned that these irreplaceable sites with millennia-old paintings are at great risk.

A task force comprising Civil Defense teams, volunteer firefighters, civil and military fire brigades, and public servants from various municipal departments has been working without interruption since last Tuesday. Gesiel Wallace, the local Civil Defense coordinator, identified strong winds as a primary adversary, noting that they spread sparks rapidly through vegetation dried out by severe drought. The Environment Secretariat has announced an investigation into the origin of the fires, suspecting possible intentional actions resulting from uncontrolled land and trash burning.

Sources: G1.