Wildfire near Balsas (Aug 20)
Satellite image: NASA MODIS (infrared — active fire in orange/red, from yesterday).
Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).
Burning near Balsas, Brazil, an active wildfire has consumed 480 hectares (1,186 acres) since it started on August 20, 2026. Satellites are picking up an intense heat signature from the fire front, accompanied by 19 heat detections in the past 48 hours clustering nearby to show the extent of the spread.
This incident occurs during the region's typical fire season, which runs from August to October. The broader landscape sees a contrast, with 3,342,141 hectares burned across the country so far in 2026, marking an 89% decrease below the two-decade average.
In context
This wildfire has been burning in Brazil for 1 day. So far it has affected roughly 480 ha (1,186 acres) — about 4.8 km².
Close to the tropics, fires tend to follow the dry season and are often linked to land-clearing rather than a single summer peak.
The bigger picture in Brazil
Across Brazil, roughly 3,342,141 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 89% below the two-decade average. Data from Copernicus GWIS.
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Community reports
Reports from people near the fire · unverified
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