Brazil faces widespread forest fires in Bahia, Mato Grosso, and Minas Gerais

Multiple regions in Brazil are facing intensified forest fires driven by drought and El Niño effects. In Bahia, the state has declared emergency situations in 85 municipalities, with 67 already homologated. Authorities have deployed 180 firefighters, aircraft, and helicopters to combat fires in areas including Chapada Diamantina and Pilão Arcado.

Mato Grosso is also seeing significant activity, with the Military Fire Department responding to simultaneous fires across eight municipalities. Operations in the state utilize heavy machinery, water trucks, and aerial support, while the 'Operation Infrared' uses satellite data to monitor illegal heat sources. Fire use for rural management remains prohibited in the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal biomes until late 2026.

In Minas Gerais, firefighters are battling a fire in a remote, difficult-to-access area of the Serra do Espinhaço near Pico da Formosa. The blaze, which began in Santo Antônio do Retiro, has been active for several days, requiring crews to navigate dense vegetation and steep terrain.