Bolivia Wildfires Map
Wildfire statistics · Bolivia
In 2026, 645,080 hectares have burned in Bolivia — 90% below the 20-year average.
Named fires in Bolivia
Detailed reports with satellite imagery and data.
See all named fires in Bolivia →
About wildfires in Bolivia
Bolivia faces severe wildfire seasons, particularly in the eastern lowlands. The Chiquitanía dry forest, Chaco region, and Bolivian Amazon experience extensive burning during the dry season (July-October), often linked to agricultural land clearing practices known as "chaqueo."
The 2019 fires in the Chiquitanía were among the worst in Bolivia's history, burning over 5 million hectares of dry forest and savanna. The fires destroyed critical habitat for jaguars, tapirs, and hundreds of other species in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.
This tracker monitors all satellite-detected fires across Bolivia, providing essential data for emergency response.
Bolivia wildfire season
Bolivia's fires peak in the dry season, roughly July to October and worst in August and September. The burning is concentrated in the eastern lowlands — the department of Santa Cruz, the Chiquitano dry forest (the largest tropical dry forest on Earth), the Chaco and the Bolivian Amazon in Beni.
Most fires start as "chaqueo" — slash-and-burn clearing for farming and cattle — that escapes control, and megafires have become routine as industrial agriculture expands into the lowlands.
Notable wildfires in history
- 2024 Record Fires
Bolivia's worst fire season ever: well over 10 million hectares burned between May and October — some estimates exceed 15 million, an area larger than Greece. Santa Cruz alone lost about 8.5 million hectares, roughly two-thirds of the department, and its capital choked in smoke.
- 2019 Chiquitanía Fires
Among the worst in Bolivia's history until 2024: over 5 million hectares of unique Chiquitano dry forest and savanna burned, destroying habitat for jaguars, tapirs and hundreds of other species.
- 2010 State of Emergency
A record fire year at the time forced Bolivia to declare a state of emergency, with tens of thousands of fires across the lowlands during a severe drought.
Main causes & risk factors
- "Chaqueo" — slash-and-burn clearing for farming and cattle — that escapes control
- Expansion of industrial agriculture and cattle ranching into the lowlands
- Deforestation of the Chiquitano dry forest and the Bolivian Amazon
- Severe droughts, worsened by El Niño and climate change
- Laws and weak enforcement that allow large-scale land clearing
Safety & preparedness
- Smoke can blanket Santa Cruz de la Sierra for weeks — monitor air quality
- Wear an N95 mask and limit outdoor activity on heavy-smoke days
- Keep windows closed and use an air purifier indoors when smoke is thick
- Never carry out chaqueo during burn bans or high-risk conditions
- Follow guidance from Bolivia's authorities and local Indigenous organisations
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Frequently asked questions
When is Bolivia's fire season?
July to October, worst in August and September, during the dry season in the eastern lowlands.
Where do most fires happen in Bolivia?
In the eastern lowlands — Santa Cruz, the Chiquitano dry forest, the Chaco and the Bolivian Amazon in Beni.
What was Bolivia's worst fire year?
2024 by far: over 10 million hectares burned (some estimates over 15 million), with Santa Cruz losing roughly two-thirds of the department.
What is "chaqueo"?
The slash-and-burn clearing of land for farming and cattle — most Bolivian wildfires start as chaqueo that escapes control.
Where does this map's fire data come from?
Every hotspot comes from NASA's FIRMS system, using VIIRS satellites that detect active fires worldwide and update several times a day.