Monte Alegre has 26 active fires and fire threatens archaeological sites in Pará

According to the municipal secretary of the Environment, Jean Vasconcelos, the situation is very serious. Three homes have already been completely consumed by fire in the communities of Açaizal and Boa Esperança. As the flames are out of control in these rural areas, firefighters and volunteers have changed their combat strategy and are now only working to erect protective barriers and prevent new homes from being burned.

In rural areas, losses are also significant. Producers in the Ipixuna sector reported the death of animals and the destruction of entire pastures, making it impossible to raise livestock. The dense smoke caused an immediate increase in the search for medical care in Monte Alegre due to respiratory crises.

The environmental crisis also raised alarm in the scientific community. The archaeologist and professor at the Federal University of Western Pará (Ufopa), Claide de Paula Moraes, expressed concern about the risk of destruction of archaeological sites in the municipality, known internationally for their ancient cave paintings.

The fire is advancing on the Cauçu community, located on the banks of the highway that connects Santana do Tapará to Monte Alegre. Since Sunday, the local community leader, identified as Tacilo, has been coordinating a group of residents in an attempt to control a large forest fire that is approaching historic heritage areas.

"Irreplaceable sites with ancient paintings are at a very high risk of being affected by this huge fire", warned the Ufopa professor, who is monitoring the area's preservation work together with experts from the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi.

The fire task force in Monte Alegre has been working without interruption since last Tuesday. The operation brings together Civil Defense teams, volunteer firefighters, civil and military firefighters, as well as public servants from various municipal departments.

The local Civil Defense coordinator, Gesiel Wallace, reported that the strong wind in the region has been the teams' main adversary, as it spreads sparks quickly through vegetation dried out by the severe drought. The Environment Secretariat informed that it will investigate the origin of the fires, under suspicion of possible intentional actions caused by burning of land and garbage that got out of control.