Massive wildfire devastates 20% of Brazilian forest

Firefighters successfully reduced the spread of a massive wildfire in Brasília on Wednesday, after two days of intense flames destroyed 20% of the National Forest of Brasilia.

The blaze, which officials suspect may have been caused by arson, blanketed the city in thick smoke.

The fire erupted during the peak of the dry season, where parched vegetation and high temperatures enabled the flames to spread quickly.

The National Forest, covering 5,600 hectares, provides 70% of the city’s freshwater supply, making it a vital conservation area.

Forest manager Fabio dos Santos Miranda confirmed that three out of four fires had been extinguished and hoped the remaining one would be under control by day’s end. While there is strong evidence of environmental crime, it remains unclear if the fire was started deliberately.

Three suspects were reportedly seen near the area where the fire began.

Firefighters also faced challenges in protecting nearby orchards from the encroaching flames, as strong winds carried sparks toward farms.

Major Godoy, a firefighter, expressed concerns over the orchards, stating, "We are working to protect the orchards, but the wind is blowing the fire towards them."

Local farmers, like Emilia Vasconcellos, fear the fire was set intentionally to clear land, although no concrete evidence supports this claim.

The forest had already been reduced by nearly half in 2022 due to urban development under former President Jair Bolsonaro, whose policies weakened environmental protections and spurred deforestation in the Amazon.

The fire follows a record drought and heightened fire activity in the Amazon, attributed to El Niño and worsened by climate change.

August saw the highest number of fires in the Amazon since 2010, signaling ongoing environmental challenges for Brazil.