Suzano Expands Firefighting Operations in Mato Grosso do Sul With AI and Thermal Drone Technology

Suzano has expanded its forest fire prevention and firefighting operations in Mato Grosso do Sul through the adoption of artificial intelligence and thermal drone technology ahead of the region’s dry season, which typically occurs between August and October.

The company said it has invested R$25 million annually in fire prevention and response infrastructure in the state. The operation covers more than 1 million hectares of forest areas and supports the protection of more than 300,000 hectares of native vegetation and conservation areas within the Cerrado biome.

As part of the initiative, Suzano has introduced an artificial intelligence system capable of automatically detecting smoke and a DJI Mavic 3T drone equipped with a high-resolution thermal camera. The drone can identify heat sources before visible smoke appears and transmit real-time images to firefighting teams.

According to Amarildo José Nunes, Asset Intelligence Manager at Suzano in Mato Grosso do Sul, the investments are intended to strengthen protection of both forest assets and surrounding communities during periods of elevated wildfire risk.

The company’s firefighting structure includes 241 personnel during the critical season, comprising 167 permanent firefighters and 74 forestry operations employees providing support. Suzano estimates the expanded operation could reduce average response times by up to 15 minutes, bringing the interval between incident detection and deployment of firefighting teams to approximately one hour.

The monitoring network includes 57 towers equipped with 360-degree cameras that continuously transmit images to control centers in Três Lagoas and Ribas do Rio Pardo. Artificial intelligence is used to analyze the images and identify potential smoke plumes, enabling faster dispatch of response teams.

Suzano’s firefighting fleet includes two aircraft, water tanker trucks and specialized firefighting vehicles. The company recently added two new water tanker trucks and five adapted Toyota Hilux pickup trucks, while field teams have begun using satellite tracking devices for real-time brigade monitoring.

Fire prevention activities are conducted in cooperation with companies associated with Reflore, the South Mato Grosso Association of Forest Producers, through information sharing and operational support during the dry season.

Suzano currently manages 1.136 million hectares of eucalyptus plantations in Mato Grosso do Sul, including 327,000 hectares dedicated to biodiversity conservation, permanent preservation areas and native vegetation.