# Amazonas forest fires and Brazilian military response

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/amazonas-forest-fires-and-brazilian-military-response
> Updated: 2026-10-19T20:29:19.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) deployed two KC-390 Millennium aircraft to combat intensifying forest fires in the state of Amazonas. Utilizing the Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS), the aircraft are capable of dropping up to 12,000 liters of pressurized water per flight. 

One aircraft is assigned to firefighting missions while the other transports essential equipment and supplies. This deployment follows a significant surge in wildfires, with data from Censipam indicating a 271% increase in fire spots during the first ten days of October compared to the same period in 2025. The environmental crisis has prompted 36 municipalities to declare a state of emergency and has caused significant air quality degradation in cities such as Manaus.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-19: Portuguese Air Force expands wildfire combat fleet with C-130 plans

The Portuguese Air Force has conducted over 200 hours of wildfire combat this year using Black Hawk helicopters, with plans to deploy C-130 aircraft by 2027 to bolster aerial firefighting capabilities.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/portuguese-air-force-expands-wildfire-combat-fleet-with-c-130-plans

### 2026-10-12: Brazilian Air Force deploys KC-390 aircraft to fight Amazonas fires

The Brazilian Air Force is using KC-390 Millennium aircraft equipped with MAFFS to fight forest fires in Amazonas, following a 271% increase in fire spots compared to last year.

9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazilian-air-force-deploys-kc-390-aircraft-to-fight-amazonas-wildfires

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Cite as: Amazonas forest fires and Brazilian military response. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/amazonas-forest-fires-and-brazilian-military-response