Hundreds help control wildfire in Brazil

Although the declaration was in effect a symbolic gesture as it will not be accepted by Spain or the international community, the moves by both sides take Spain’s worst political crisis in four decades to a new level.

Brazil’s Environment Ministry says nearly 160,000 acres of the 595,000-acre Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park has burned since it began October 10. 

The recently formed Network Against Fire is a group composed of people residing in areas near the park that provide transportation, meals, and manpower to help the firefighters. 

On its Facebook page is says some 200 volunteers are helping the close to 180 firefighters battling the blaze. 

The ministry’s Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation said the fire is expected to be extinguished within the two days.