# El Niño-driven fire risk across South America and Iberia

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/el-nio-driven-fire-risk-in-south-america
> Updated: 2026-08-03T20:54:00.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 2.

In early July 2026 South American governments issued alerts as the El Niño phenomenon combined with unusually cold weather, prompting emergency plans and coordinated firefighting. By early August, fire activity surged: Colombia’s Cundinamarca department saw incidents rise from 17 in June to 130 in July, while Quito recorded a near‑300 % weekly increase, both linked to El Niño‑driven heat, wind and human ignitions. Authorities responded with prevention campaigns, sanctions, fire‑cabinet installations and community emergency planning. Spain and Portugal also faced extreme fire seasons. Spain logged 385 forest fires since 1 January, burning 222,296 ha—well above the 20‑year average—and a July blaze killed 15 people, displaced about 115,000 residents and burned more than 168,000 ha, including a historic 50,000‑ha fire in Ávila declared a national emergency. Portugal’s Independent Technical Commission warned of chronic under‑investment in rural fire management and issued 20 recommendations, notably professionalising its National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority. Peru’s Ancash region reported 47 fire emergencies, destroying 507 ha and injuring one person. Spain’s August 2026 aid package for the 2025 fire season allocated €3.75 million, covering only 50 % of eligible reconstruction costs. Regional authorities continue to call for stricter prevention measures, increased funding and coordinated response plans to address the growing fire risk.

## Claims

- Cundinamarca, Colombia, recorded 130 forest fires in July 2024, up from 17 in June, a 660 % increase. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Spain allocated up to €3,745,154.38 in aid for 2025 forest‑fire damage, covering only 50 % of eligible costs. (single source)
- Portugal’s Independent Technical Commission reported a lack of political investment in rural fire management and issued 20 recommendations. (single source)
- Ibagué declared an orange alert due to increased forest fires and reduced water flow. (single source)
- Quito reported a near‑300 % increase in forest‑fire incidents during the last week. (single source)
- The 2025 forest‑fire season in Spain burned more than 168 000 ha and caused 15 deaths. (single source)
- Portugal’s commission recommended professionalising the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority. (single source)
- Spain’s aid for 2025 fires was published in the BOE on 4 August 2026, nearly a year after the fires. (single source)
- Spain recorded 385 forest fires since 1 January, burning 222,296 ha. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-03: Forest fire spikes hit Spain, Portugal, Colombia and beyond

Spain, Portugal, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and other regions face sharp rises in forest fires, prompting casualties, large‑scale damage, policy reviews and delayed aid.

18 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/forest-fire-spikes-in-colombia-and-ecuador-tied-to-el-nio

### 2026-07-05: South America ramps up alerts and emergency plans amid El Niño and extreme cold

Argentina issues cold and snow alerts; Ecuador launches forest‑fire prevention campaign; Brazil drills health response to El Niño floods; Peru mobilises river‑clearing in Junín; Colombia warns of heat wave – a

11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/colombia-heat-warning-and-argentina-cold-alert-highlight-extreme-weather

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Cite as: El Niño-driven fire risk across South America and Iberia. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/el-nio-driven-fire-risk-in-south-america