Wildfire near Lençóis, Brazil (2026)

Wildfire near Lençóis — Sentinel-2 true color

Wildfire near Lençóis — Sentinel-2 SWIR (fuego)

True view Fire view

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True view (left): as the eye sees it.
Fire view (right): infrared (SWIR), sees through smoke and brings out the heat.

🟢 green = vegetation
🟤 brown = already burned
🟠 orange = fire right now

Drag to compare: normal photo on the left, heat brought out on the right.

Green: vegetationBrown: already burnedOrange: fire right nowSentinel-2 · Copernicus

The story so far

About 10 km northwest of Lençóis.

Summary written on Sep 14, while the fire was still active. It has since ended — the figures above are current.

Satellite monitoring indicates an intense thermal signature billowing from an active wildfire currently consuming 300 hectares (741 acres) near Lençóis, Brazil. Orbiting instruments have registered 12 distinct heat detections over the past 48 hours, highlighting the ongoing spread and active front of the blaze, which first ignited on September 13, 2026.

This incident unfolds during the region's typical fire season, which spans from August to October. Despite the seasonal susceptibility, the broader national landscape reflects a quieter year for fire activity overall. Across the country, 5,517,902 hectares have burned so far in 2026, marking a significant 82% decrease compared to the two-decade average.

In context

This wildfire burned in Brazil for 2 days. In total it burned about 400 ha (988 acres) — around 4.0 km². That size is an estimate from satellite hotspots, not a measured area.

Close to the tropics, fires tend to follow the dry season and are often linked to land-clearing rather than a single summer peak.