Wildfire near Villa de Leyva, Colombia (2026)

Wildfire near Villa de Leyva — NASA satellite

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

The story so far

Burning across the landscape for thirty-one days after its ignition on September 21, 2026, a wildfire near Villa de Leyva, Colombia, has now ended. During its more than month-long duration, the incident generated an intense heat signature detectable by satellites, while consuming an estimated 330 hectares, or 815 acres, of land.

This extended burning occurred within the typical fire season, which is known locally as the dry season. The wider geographical context reveals a broader national picture, with 1,028,873 hectares burned so far in 2026, marking a figure that sits 51% below the two-decade average for the country.

In context

This wildfire burned in Colombia for 1 day. In total it burned about 330 ha (815 acres) — around 3.3 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.