Federal Public Prosecutor's Office opens inquiry to investigate whether fire in Chapada was arson.
Given information that the fire in Chapada dos Veadeiros, in Goiás, is criminal, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) in Luziânia (GO) demanded clarifications from the Federal Police, the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park and the municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás; they will have five days to send information to the MPF related to the fire; the information will be provided in the civil inquiry to investigate the causes or what contributed to the start or spread of the large-scale fire that is occurring in the National Park, initiated yesterday (26)
Mariana Tokarnia - reporter for Agência Brasil
Given reports that the fire in Chapada dos Veadeiros, Goiás, was started criminally, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) in Luziânia (GO) has demanded clarifications from the Federal Police, the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, and the municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás. They will have five days to submit information to the MPF related to the fire.
The information will be provided in the civil inquiry to investigate the causes or what contributed to the start or spread of the large-scale fire that is occurring in the National Park, initiated yesterday (26). The fire has already consumed 26% of the total area of the park.
As one of its arguments, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office highlights that the location was the scene of intense legal dispute, especially during the process of expanding the National Park, which increased from 65 to 240 hectares. One hypothesis circulating in the cities is that the fire is being maintained by people opposed to the expansion.
As a first step, federal prosecutor Nádia Simas Souza sent official letters to the Federal Police, the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, and the municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás.
The Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) requested updated information from the Federal Police regarding the measures taken to investigate possible crimes related to the fire in the park and whether a police investigation has already been initiated. Regarding the municipality of Alto Paraíso de Goiás, the MPF wants to know what steps have been taken to ensure that the state of emergency declared by the city government is recognized by the federal government.
Regarding the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF) wants information on the initiation of administrative proceedings to investigate the causes of the fire, whether it was accidental or intentional, and, in the latter case, to identify any possible elements of information that could lead to the identification of the perpetrator.