The Civil Defense Emergency Management Center of the state of São Paulo has issued a warning for the risk of forest fires in 16 regions of the state. The warning affects the areas of the capital, the Metropolitan Region of SP, Araçatuba, Araraquara, Barretos, Bauru, Campinas, Franca, Itapeva, Marília, Presidente Prudente, Registro, Ribeirão Preto, São José dos Campos, São José do Rio Preto and Sorocaba.
According to the Civil Defense, relative humidity could reach critical levels in the coming days in these regions. With the exception of the coast of São Paulo, the entire state is expected to register levels below 20% relative humidity. In the capital of São Paulo, temperatures are expected to reach up to 32°C. In Ribeirão Preto and Araçatuba, maximum temperatures could reach 36°C.
Civil Defense recommends that the population adopt preventive measures against forest fires, such as not releasing balloons; not lighting bonfires, especially near woods and forests; not using fire to clear land or burn garbage.
“Carry out controlled burning only when permitted and with authorization from the authorities; On rural properties, build and maintain clean firebreaks to prevent the spread of fire, especially near roads and highways and forested areas,” highlighted the Civil Defense, in a note.
To receive reports from Civil Defense, interested parties must register their cell phone number by sending an SMS with their zip code to number 40199.
Air quality
According to the Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo (Cetesb), the action of a dry and stable air mass in the state will cause little cloudiness and variable winds, with periods of calm and weak winds. The occurrence of thermal inversion in low levels of the atmosphere is also expected during the night and early morning, “a situation that will keep the air quality predominantly Moderate, and may reach Poor quality”.
Of the more than 40 areas monitored by Cetesb in the state of São Paulo, only Santos (SP) has air quality considered good; 21 regions have moderate air quality; 20, poor; and four, very poor (Cidade Universitária-University of São Paulo; Cubatão-Centro; Cubatão-Vila Parisi; and Piracicaba).