Wildfire near Chilecito, Argentina (2026)

Wildfire near Chilecito — NASA satellite

Yesterday's image: fire shows in orange and red. NASA MODIS

The story so far

About 25 km west of Chilecito.

Summary written on Aug 1, while the fire was still active. It has since ended — the figures above are current.

Satellites are picking up an intense heat signature from an active wildfire in Argentina, where 37 heat detections have been registered over the past 48 hours to map the spread of the front. The fire has consumed 850 hectares, or 2,100 acres, since it started on July 31, 2026.

This incident unfolds during a broader national landscape where 557,272 hectares have burned so far in 2026, marking a figure 86 percent below the two-decade average. While the typical fire season in the region runs from December to March, this active blaze continues to be monitored closely.

In context

This wildfire burned in Argentina for 2 days. In total it burned about 850 ha (2,100 acres) — around 8.5 km². That size is an estimate from satellite hotspots, not a measured area.

In the Southern Hemisphere the season runs the other way, peaking roughly from November through March.