Wildfires in Brazil today
So far in 2026, 5,866,295 hectares have burned in Brazil — 81% below the 20-year average. Right now 34 wildfires are burning.
5,866,295 hectares so far this year, 81% below the average. Out of the 26 countries the European system tracks, Brazil ranks 24th for area burned relative to its average.
Named fires in Brazil
Detailed reports with satellite imagery and data.
Burning right now “Contained” doesn’t mean out. It’s the share of the perimeter where crews stopped the spread. In most of Europe it isn’t published; “not held back yet” is an official 0%.
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Brazil experiences some of the most intense wildfire activity on Earth, with thousands of fires burning across its vast territory throughout the year. The country's diverse ecosystems — from the Amazon rainforest to the Cerrado savanna and the Pantanal wetlands — face significant fire threats, particularly during the dry season from July to October.
The Amazon basin, the world's largest tropical rainforest, has seen increasing fire activity linked to deforestation and land clearing. The Cerrado, a tropical savanna covering roughly 21% of Brazil, naturally experiences seasonal fires, but human-caused blazes have intensified in recent decades. The Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, suffered catastrophic fires in 2020 that burned nearly a third of its area.
Our real-time satellite monitoring uses NASA FIRMS data to track every fire hotspot detected across Brazil, providing critical information for environmental agencies like IBAMA and INPE, as well as researchers and concerned citizens worldwide.
Today's situation
Four fires are still burning in Brazil, covering some 1,930 hectares between them. The biggest by far is near Brasil Novo, at around 630 hectares. 104 more broke out over the past week.
It is a relatively quiet year. Brazil has lost 8,303,069 hectares so far, well below its usual 30,912,239 hectares — the 22nd worst figure among the 26 countries Copernicus tracks.
Around Brasil Novo the air is at an unhealthy level for sensitive groups, and it is warm and humid with steady winds and a chance of rain.
Updated 5 Oct
Brazil wildfire season
Brazil's fire activity concentrates in the dry season, roughly July to October, when the Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal dry out. Unlike Mediterranean wildfires, most Brazilian fires are deliberately set to clear land for agriculture and cattle ranching, then spread into surrounding forest and wetland.
Fire counts spike sharply in August and September, and severe droughts — increasingly common — can turn routine land-clearing into vast, uncontrollable blazes. Agencies such as INPE track hotspots daily via satellite.
Notable wildfires in history
- 2024 Record Drought Fires
The worst drought in decades drove huge fire outbreaks across the Amazon and Pantanal, blanketing cities like São Paulo and Brasília in smoke.
- 2020 Pantanal Fires
Fires burned roughly a third of the world's largest tropical wetland, killing enormous numbers of animals and destroying critical habitat.
- 2019 Amazon Fires
A surge in deforestation fires drew global alarm, with smoke darkening the skies over São Paulo more than 2,000 km away.
Main causes & risk factors
- Deliberate burning to clear land for agriculture and cattle
- Deforestation opening the forest to drier, fire-prone conditions
- Intensifying droughts linked to climate change
- The natural dry season from July to October
- Fires escaping from cleared land into forest and wetland
Safety & preparedness
- Report illegal fires and deforestation to IBAMA or local authorities
- Respect government bans on burning ("queimadas") during the dry season
- Limit outdoor activity and protect children and the elderly during heavy smoke
- Use masks and keep windows closed when air quality is poor
- Follow guidance from environmental agencies during outbreaks
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Frequently asked questions
When is wildfire season in Brazil?
Mainly the dry season from July to October, with fire counts peaking in August and September across the Amazon, Cerrado and Pantanal.
What causes most fires in Brazil?
Most are deliberately set to clear land for agriculture and cattle, then spread into forest and wetland — a problem made worse by drought.
How bad were the 2020 Pantanal fires?
They burned roughly a third of the world's largest tropical wetland and killed vast numbers of animals, one of the worst wildlife disasters on record.
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.
Is this Brazil wildfire map free?
Yes — it's completely free and needs no sign-up. You can track active fires across Brazil and the world in real time.