Mato Grosso wildfire engulfs Chapada dos Guimarães protected area

A large wildfire broke out on 30 April in the Chapada dos Guimarães Environmental Protection Area in Mato Grosso, Brazil, about 177 km from Primavera do Leste and 65 km north of Cuiabá. Strong winds, low humidity and prolonged drought hampered firefighting efforts.

The Mato Grosso Military Fire Corps deployed ground crews, helicopters and aircraft, delivering roughly 108,000 litres of water and working alongside the State Civil Defence and the Integrated Air Operations Center. By the following day the fire was reported as contained within a safe perimeter, with no immediate risk of spread and no injuries recorded. Authorities are investigating the cause while the state continues its emergency response, including a prohibition on open‑burning that runs until November.

The incident adds to a recent surge of heat‑spot detections across the state’s Cerrado and Amazon biomes, prompting continued satellite monitoring and coordination between state and federal agencies.