Presidente Prudente Sets 70-Day Deadline for Fire Cleanup

Quick Summary

The municipality of Presidente Prudente has defined a 70-day timeframe for the removal of solid waste fueling the underground fire in the Vila Furquim district. This timeline was established during a crisis cabinet meeting on Monday, December 22.

The meeting occurred one week after the São Paulo Public Ministry (MPSP) formally attributed responsibility for the fire to the local administration. The fire has been active for more than two months, originating in an irregular waste deposit.

The operational plan requires the initial reduction of material temperatures, followed by mechanical removal and temporary accommodation of the residues. The municipality estimates that the cooling, removal, and relocation phases will require at least 70 days to complete.

Operations are slated to begin during the first week of January. The fire started on October 12 behind the Sesi building, disrupting local education and commerce due to heavy smoke.

Crisis Meeting and Operational Timeline

A crisis cabinet meeting convened by the Prefeitura de Presidente Prudente resulted in the decision to remove the waste causing the subterranean fire. The gathering took place on Monday, December 22, bringing together key municipal agencies.

Attendees included the Coordination of Protection and Civil Defense, along with the secretariats of Works (Sosp), Environment (Semea), Planning (Seplan), Mobility (Semob), and the Mayor's Office.

The administration stated that the meeting focused on actions to control and eliminate the fire, specifically addressing the requirements outlined in the civil inquiry by the Special Group for Environmental Defense (Gaema). This inquiry was released by the Public Ministry one week prior to the meeting.

The strategy involves a two-step process:

1. Reduction of the material's temperature to safe levels.
2. Mechanical removal of the solid waste from the site.

According to the administration, the team estimates a minimum of 70 days is necessary to execute the cooling, removal, and temporary storage of the residues. The start of this phase is scheduled for the first week of January.

Background of the Incident 🌫️

The subterranean fire ignited on October 12 in an area located behind the Sesi building. Since its inception, the blaze has produced heavy smoke that spread across several neighborhoods in Presidente Prudente.

The intensity of the smoke forced the suspension of in-person classes at local schools. The commercial sector and residents in the surrounding area were also significantly affected by the pollution.

Despite various containment efforts undertaken by the municipality since the fire began, the underground burning persisted. The administration faced scrutiny as the fire remained active for over two months.

Earlier in November, researchers from Unesp of Presidente Prudente utilized drones and thermal cameras to assist firefighting teams. These technologies helped identify specific hotspots beneath the surface, recording temperatures that approached 200 °C below the ground level.

Legal Context and Responsibility

The decision to set a removal deadline comes directly after legal pressure from the Ministério Público de São Paulo (MPSP). The Public Ministry issued a statement holding the local government accountable for the environmental incident.

The civil inquiry conducted by Gaema highlighted the irregular nature of the waste deposit that sparked the fire. The findings from this inquiry were disclosed on Monday, December 15, prompting the subsequent crisis meeting on December 22.

The municipality is now moving to align its operational timeline with the demands of the civil inquiry. By committing to the 70-day window, the administration aims to address the environmental hazard and mitigate further public health risks associated with the smoke.