Last week, J. Marcos Maia and his colleagues from the Mato Grosso Fire Department were dispatched to a remote area of the Brazilian countryside to battle a raging wildfire. But they did more than simply work to put out the blaze.
They also helped preserve
a precious life along the way.
As Maia and his crew fought the growing fire, they noticed a small armadillo fleeing the area near the flames. The small animal hadn’t been burned, but he appeared to have been affected by the smoke and heat.
“After spotting him leaving the area, we decided to help, given the circumstances,” Maia told The Dodo.
Maia and his colleagues moved the armadillo to safety and offered him water:
“Amidst the flames, [it was] an encounter that reinforces that every life matters,” Maia said.
Shortly after, the armadillo was released, as he “showed no injuries or signs of weakness,” Maia said.
Maia and his colleagues successfully extinguished the fire, helping protect the habitat of the animals who live there — including the armadillo they stopped to help.
“It was a rewarding feeling, as this is also part of our duty,” Maia said.
