“The work is progressing favorably. We believe that if everything continues as it has, we will have good news within the next few hours,” was reported at the situation update at 10 a.m.
It was cautioned that the “fire remains active” and usually, late morning brings “an influx of wind that can cause reactivations in areas” where they are currently “working on consolidation and aftermath containment,” indicating unpredictable points where there is no “guarantee that the fire will not breach the perimeter already affected,” it was stated.
Elísio Oliveira specified that only when there is “certainty that the fire will not spread to new areas,” will it be declared “under control.”
He continued: “This is a very unfair fight. Despite all the work done by all the operatives from different entities, whether the firefighters, who are the main agents doing strenuous work in the operations theater, supported by members of the ICNF [Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests], forest sappers teams, and elements of the GNR (…) just a change in wind direction in places where flames are not visible, and it [the fire] will reignite, potentially compromising the entire operation.”
Concerning injuries sustained in the operations theater, the commander reported that on Friday there were “two situations, one ICNF member had a fall and was taken to the hospital with minor upper limb trauma, and another incident where an individual refused hospital transport. Therefore, no serious situations.”
Elísio Oliveira also revealed that “two light helicopters” are involved in the operations and that a “heavy bomber helicopter and two pairs of bomber planes (…), as well as a coordination helicopter” will be deployed.
