Brigadistas take a break after putting out a fire, waiting to see whether it will start up again. Photo by Açony Santos
Mel Alves Sena’s brother Cinho points to a line of fire in December 2015 that he ended up fighting the entire night. Photo by Açony Santos
A brigadista looks on as a government-funded helicopter drops a bag of water on the active flames in January 2016. Photo by Açony Santos
Mel Alves Sena at the volunteer firefighting brigade office in Lençóis founded by his dad. Photo by Emilee Gilpin
Cutting the head off the dragon
Açony Santos, a brigadista, said in recent years the fires have been particularly bad. Photo by Emilee Gilpin
Brigadistas battle the dragon one night in November 2015. Photo by Açony Santos
Brigadistas take a break from fighting fires to eat food volunteers have provided them. Photo by Açony Santos
Marta Ferrera speaks with a helicopter crew in November 2015. She has a fear of heights, she said, and went in the helicopter once, but prefers to stay on the ground. Photo by Açony Santos
Volunteers work in Ferrera’s kitchen preparing meals for the brigadistas. Photo by Aćony Santos
“Bolsonaro is a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” Sena said. “The government makes promises, but we’re used to them not showing up. We don’t wait for the government; we just do our job,” he said.But why? Why fight so hard for so long, breathing in smoke and putting their lives at risk, for no money?'The bombeiros look out at the land and see the smoke, they see the devastation, or they see the beauty of it all, and they cry'
A brigadista surveys a razed area still smoking in the park in January 2016. Photo by Açony Santos
