Release sent on October 6, 2022
Real-time monitoring of forest fire outbreaks and an application for communicating with residents are strategies implemented by State Grid Brazil Holding to reduce the risk of fires
During the winter period in the Southern Hemisphere, the lack of rain contributes to the emergence and spread of flames, causing forest fires. When close to power transmission lines, this situation is considered critical due to the possibility of affecting structures and causing power outages.
Brazil has recorded 116,443 fire outbreaks across its territory since the beginning of the year, 10% more than in the same period in 2021. The Amazon and Cerrado biomes are the most affected this year. The highest concentration of fire outbreaks is in the North region, where an increase of 42% in the occurrence of fires has already been recorded, with 60,224 fire outbreaks in the period. In the Central-West region, from January 2022, until September 11, 27,784 fire outbreaks were recorded. This number represents an increase of 17% compared to the same period in 2021. The data are from the Queimadas Database, from the Queimadas Program, of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE).
To reduce the risk of unavailability of the systems it operates, as well as damage to forestry areas, State Grid Brazil Holding maintains a Fire Monitoring and Prevention System. The company has innovated in remote monitoring of fire outbreaks and in predicting incidents, with geoprocessing tools that allow alerting local teams at substations.
The remote monitoring system for fire outbreaks uses the BDQueimadas database, from the Queimadas Program, of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), with geoprocessing tools, in which the crossing of information on fire outbreaks is evaluated daily with areas highly susceptible to the occurrence of fires within a radius of 3 km from the transmission lines, on a horizon of up to 2 days in advance.
Image caption: Fire Alert System dashboard image / SGBH Disclosure
The data is available to the company's Operations Center, which can alert local teams at substations in real time to check the situation, allowing the necessary actions to be taken quickly.
“The fire prevention system based on geoprocessing analysis and INPE database is an innovation developed by SGBH that aims to generate daily and accurate information for better planning of our actions during the period of greatest incidence of fires in Brazil,” says Ricardo Felix, director of Health, Safety and Environment at SGBH.
In addition to operational monitoring activities, State Grid Brazil also relies on the public’s collaboration in protecting forested areas and woodlands in terms of fire prevention. Communication with residents living near our projects has also been strengthened. Environmental education activities are carried out regularly, with guidance directed at communities near transmission lines. To optimize and speed up communication on the subject, the company maintains an instant messaging application for groups in communities around transmission lines and a website with additional information to clarify doubts and guide the population.
“A close relationship with communities is essential, and sometimes provides us with relevant information about outbreaks before they reach structures,” adds Ricardo.
Below are links and contact numbers for emergencies regarding fires and burnings.
Access the Previna Incencios website at this link.
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 0800 942 0142
Firefighters: 193
