Brasília (DF), 26/8/2024 – The Armed Forces, under the coordination of the Ministry of Defense, are working in São Paulo with 600 military personnel to combat the fires. The operation has been taking place since Thursday (22) and currently includes five helicopters (two from the Navy and three from the Army) and the KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force (FAB).
The KC-390 Millennium has already been used this year to fight fires in the Pantanal and stands out for having the technology to contain the flames in mid-flight. The aircraft uses the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS). These are tubes that project water out of the plane’s left rear door and can discharge up to 3,000 gallons – approximately 12,000 liters of water – in areas that are difficult to access.
Engineering – In addition to the aircraft, specialized engineering equipment is also being used to build firebreaks, a kind of barrier to prevent the fire from spreading. Rescue vehicles and tanker trucks are also being used. The Navy, Army and Air Force are working in support of the state of São Paulo and in partnership with government agencies.
By Bruna Lima – Photos: Disclosure