Wildfires in Mato Grosso threaten homes and livestock

Large-scale wildfires have been impacting the municipality of Jangada and several other regions in Mato Grosso, Brazil, since August 14. The fires have spread through vegetation and rural properties, threatening homes, livestock, and local biodiversity. In Jangada, reports indicate that over 120 hectares of sugarcane have been destroyed, and local producers have suffered losses of cattle.

The Mato Grosso Military Fire Department is currently managing 20 active fire fronts across 15 different municipalities. Emergency operations involve aerial support from the Military Firefighter Aviation Group and the Integrated Air Operations Center. Residents in Jangada have called for volunteers and water trucks to assist in protecting inhabited areas as the fire continues to pose a threat near the BR-163 highway.

According to data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), the state has recorded hundreds of heat occurrences in the last 24 hours. The state government maintains a ban on using fire for rural land management and cleaning in the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal biomes until November 30.