Wildfire near Maloca Velha, Brazil (2026)

Wildfire near Maloca Velha — NASA satellite

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

The story so far

An active wildfire burning near Maloca Velha, Brazil, has generated an intense heat signature detected by satellites since it started on October 27, 2026. Monitoring systems have picked up 37 heat detections in the past 48 hours alone, indicating a significant concentration of thermal activity across the area as the fire continues to burn.

The incident has reached an estimated size of 380 hectares, or roughly 939 acres, derived from satellite hotspot counts. The surrounding region experiences a typical fire season running from August to October.

This event unfolds within a broader national context where 11,142,031 hectares have burned across the country so far in 2026, marking a figure that is 64 percent below the two-decade average.

In context

This wildfire has been burning in Brazil for 2 days. So far it has affected roughly 380 ha (939 acres) — about 3.8 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.