Rio de Janeiro records highest number of fires since 2017
Since the beginning of 2024, satellite monitoring by the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) has detected 760 fires in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This marks the highest number of fires recorded in a single year since 2017, which saw 959 incidents.
This figure could still increase, as September and October typically have high historical averages for forest fires. As of September, Inpe has identified 55 fires in the state.
The Rio de Janeiro Fire Department had already reported a substantial rise in fires in the state since the beginning of the year, with 6,178 more incidents compared to the same period last year—an increase of approximately 85 percent. The most affected municipalities are Rio de Janeiro (4,513 fires), São Gonçalo (569 fires), and Duque de Caxias (561 fires).
The surge in fires across Brazil has led to a decline in air quality in various regions, heightening concerns about public health. Recently, images of landscapes shrouded in smoke from capitals like Brasília, São Paulo, and Belo Horizonte have gone viral on social media.
Experts note that ecosystems become increasingly vulnerable to fires during droughts, such as the one currently affecting the country. This situation may be exacerbated by various factors, including human-induced global warming and the impacts of climate phenomena like El Niño and La Niña.
