Evaluation of forest fire registers of the State of Paraná in the period from 1991 to 2001

Abstract

This research was conducted with the objective of an evaluation of the fire report occurred in the state of Paraná in the period between 1991 and 2001, aiming to show information about the total number of fires occurred, the months of highest occurrence, the vegetation types and the regions of the state that where most affected. 220 000 documents where studied to the final compilation of data referring to fire reports from the registers of the fireman of Paraná, which resulted in 15 890 reports of forest fires. The results of this study allowed us to conclude that: a) in 1994, 1999 and 2000 the number of fire occurrences was above the average; b) the higher incidence of forest fires in Paraná happened in the months of July, August and September; c) the higher number of fires was registered in the north of the state of Paraná; d) Londrina presented the higher number of reports of fires attended by the Fireman Corporation and; e) the vegetation of small size of native forests were the most affect ones.