Wildfire near Nova Santa Helena
Satellite image: NASA MODIS (infrared — active fire in orange/red, from yesterday).
Heat detections: NASA FIRMS (last 48h).
Satellites are picking up an intense heat signature at an active wildfire burning near Nova Santa Helena, Brazil, where 23 heat detections have been registered over the past 48 hours. The fire, which started on August 1, 2026, has grown to encompass 550 hectares, or 1,359 acres.
This incident unfolds during the region's typical fire season, which runs from August to October. Despite active blazes in the area, the broader national landscape shows a different trend: 2,067,735 hectares have burned so far in 2026, marking a significant 93 percent below the two-decade average.
In context
This wildfire has been burning in Brazil for 1 day. So far it has affected roughly 550 ha (1,359 acres) — about 5.5 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 2,067,735 hectares have burned so far in 2026 — 93% 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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