Atvos Strengthens Fire Fighting Efforts with Investment in Infrastructure and Public Awareness

Atvos’ Commitment to Fire Prevention and Combating Fires

Atvos, a prominent player in the biofuels sector in Brazil, reaffirms its social and environmental commitment through various initiatives to raise awareness among the population about preventive measures and firefighting. In the 2023/2024 harvest, the company strengthens partnerships with sector entities, fire departments, and the environmental police, aligning efforts in the #ZeroFires campaign promoted by the National Union of Bioenergy (UDOP).

The Challenge of Fires and Atvos’ Mobilization

During the winter period, drought and low rainfall contribute to the emergence of fire hotspots, which cause significant damage and threaten the safety and health of people and the environment. According to information from the Fire Monitor, released by MapBiomas, over 16.3 million hectares were burned in 2022 in Brazil.

“From June to September, the risk of fires is amplified, especially in the Southeast and Central-West regions, where we have nine agribusiness units. The drought during this time facilitates the spread of flames from rural areas to urban areas. Therefore, we are committed to educating and training the communities in these vulnerable regions on how to prevent and deal with fires,” emphasizes Leonardo Mendes, manager of Health, Safety, and Environment at Atvos.

The company has implemented various actions for this purpose, including raising awareness among its more than 9,000 employees, who in turn are encouraged to share the knowledge gained with family and friends. Other initiatives include visits from the company’s fire brigades to public schools near its operations in Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, and São Paulo, and conducting simulated activities for fire identification and combat.

Atvos’ Infrastructure in Combating Fires

In addition to its commitment to awareness, Atvos invests in a robust fire-fighting infrastructure. The company has a team of 1,300 trained and equipped employees to prevent and combat fires, supported by a fleet of 150 vehicles. Furthermore, all Atvos units are part of the Emergency Mutual Aid Plan (PAME), a group formed by companies, governments, and communities working together in emergency fire response.

For the 2023/2024 harvest, Atvos invested in an innovation for the agricultural brigade trucks. Through Avante, a program that encourages employees to propose improvements, around 25 vehicles are now equipped with an automated water cannon. “This is a device that uses advanced technology to combat fire hotspots with greater precision, providing more safety to the firefighter, who will no longer need to climb the trucks to operate the cannon manually,” explains Leonardo.