This year, wildfire outbreaks in Brazil have reached record levels, particularly in regions such as the Amazon, Pantanal, and the southeast of the country. In recent days, the situation has worsened in the interior areas of São Paulo state. As of August 25th, authorities reported active fires in 21 cities in the state, with 46 municipalities on high alert.
With the arrival of a cold front in São Paulo, strong winds spread the fires, caused dust storms, and carried smoke to other cities. Residents of several municipalities noticed dark, smoke-filled skies. In Ribeirão Preto, school classes were suspended due to the accumulation of soot. Some residents had to evacuate due to the proximity of the fire and dust.
Soot from the São Paulo fires reached the skies of Brasília and Goiás, leading to the cancellation and redirection of flights. Videos appeared on social media showing airplane passengers sitting in cabins filled with smoke.
According to the state government, the wave of fires has already destroyed more than 77 square miles of land in just the last three days, forcing over 800 people to leave their homes.
On August 26th, a record number of new fires were recorded in the Amazon in the states of Rondônia and Amazonas, with 1,988 outbreaks.
August is typically a time when the country experiences a high number of fires, but this year, the number is much higher than usual. As of August 26th, 51,227 fires have been recorded in Brazil, compared to the average of 46,529 for this month. Thus, August is not yet over, and the number of fires has already reached a historic high.
Environment Minister Marina Silva commented on the record rise in fires: "This is an unusual situation. In just one week, or practically in two days, several municipalities caught fire simultaneously, which doesn't fit into our years of experience in dealing with fires."
In recent years, firefighters have faced unusual fire behavior during wildfires. First, the flames spread extremely quickly, fueled by drought, heat, and strong winds. Second, it has become increasingly difficult to extinguish the fires. There is an explanation for this, although many are not yet aware. During the twelve-thousand-year cycle of climatic catastrophes, which began in 2024, the Earth's subsurface activity has intensified, as has that of other planets in the solar system. This intensification manifests in increased degassing along various faults and cracks in the Earth's crust. The escaping gas acts like a blowtorch, sustaining the fire and provoking large-scale, destructive wildfires. For more details on what is happening to our planet now, visit the "Global Crisis. The Responsibility" forum.