Brigadier Tiago dos Santos, aged 38, was buried this Thursday (26) in Itirapina (SP), who died this Wednesday (25) when fighting a fire in a sugarcane field on the Corumbataí Municipal Road. The brigade member was trying to put out the fire in a water truck at the Iracema unit at Usina São Martinho, caused by fires in the region. A colleague, who was with Santos, suffered burns but is at home, out of harm’s way.
In a statement, the São Paulo Public Security Secretariat reported that the case was registered as “fire, homicide and bodily injury”. According to the Corumbataí police station report, the causes of the fire are unknown. Santos’ body was charred and the water truck was destroyed. The wake and burial took place in Itirapina, where the brigadista lived.
In a statement, the São Martinho plant reported that it is providing support to the victims’ families and is collaborating with the authorities to investigate the case. Corumbataí Civil Defense reported that the fire started at Fazenda Chorosa, and was fought by plant employees. But, due to a change of wind, it spread to an area close to ten houses and even burned a shed. Around 30 plant employees and 12 water trucks worked to contain the flames.
The day before the brigadista’s death in Corumbataí, a worker was on holiday in Brotas (SP) after jumping from a harvester at a plant that caught fire. According to the Fire Department, the victim jumped from the vehicle and suffered an open fracture to his right lower limb, as well as burns to his arms and face.
The fire in the harvester ended up causing a fire of approximately 100 thousand square meters in a sugarcane field. Brotas is one of the municipalities that recorded the highest number of fires in the state.
Just over a month ago (23/8), two employees of a plant burned to death while fighting a fire in the municipality of Urupês (SP). The victims, Saulo Rodrigo de Oliveira, aged 47, and Gerci Silveira Júnior, aged 30, were charred when they tried to escape the flames after the truck they were in overturned in a pasture area.
