Defense deploys 600 military personnel to fight São Paulo wildfires

Under the coordination of the Ministry of Defense (Ministério da Defesa/MD), the Armed Forces (Forças Armadas) have deployed 600 military personnel to fight wildfires in São Paulo. The operation, which began on Thursday, August 22, involves five helicopters — two from the Navy and three from the Army — as well as the KC-390 Millennium multi-mission aircraft from the Air Force (Força Aérea Brasileira/FAB).

The 1st Troop Carrier Group (1º Grupo de Transporte de Tropa/GTT) operated the aircraft to support firefighting operations in the state countryside. The plane arrived on the evening of Saturday, August 24, at Ribeirão Preto, the city most severely impacted by the fires.

The KC-390 Millennium, deployed earlier this year to combat fires in the Pantanal, is recognized for its firefighting capabilities. It uses the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS), which releases water through tubes installed at the aircraft’s rear left door. This system can quickly discharge up to 3,000 gallons (approximately 12,000 liters) of water to suppress fires in remote areas.

In response to the severity of the wildfires, the São Paulo State government has declared a state of emergency in 45 cities and announced the use of Armed Forces aircraft to control the flames, particularly in Ribeirão Preto, where an advanced monitoring station has been established.

The Civil Defense Emergencies Management Center (Centro de Gerenciamento de Emergências/CGE) has reported that 21 cities are experiencing active wildfires. A total of 46 municipalities are being monitored and remain on high alert due to low humidity and elevated risks posed by the ongoing heatwave affecting the entire state.

ENGINEERING — Specialized engineering equipment is being deployed to build firebreaks – strips of cleared land wide enough to stop fire from spreading. Rescue vehicles and water tank trucks are also being deployed. The Brazilian Navy, Army and Air Force are operating in support of the state of São Paulo and joining efforts with government agencies.