Firefighters successfully contained a massive wildfire in Brasilia on Wednesday, after two days of intense flames that destroyed 20 percent of the Brasilia National Forest.
The fire, which officials suspect may have been caused by arson, blanketed the city in thick smoke.
The fire broke out at the height of the dry season, where dry vegetation and high temperatures allowed the flames to spread quickly.
Covering 5,600 hectares, the National Forest provides 70% of the city’s fresh water supply, making the area vital for conservation.
Forest director Fabio dos Santos Miranda confirmed that three of the four fires had been extinguished and hoped the rest would be under control by the end of the day. While there are strong indications of environmental crime, it remains unclear whether the fire was started deliberately.
Three suspects were seen near the area where the fire started.
Firefighters also faced challenges protecting nearby orchards from the flames as strong winds carried sparks toward the farms.
Major Godoy, a firefighter, expressed concern for the orchards, saying: “We are working to protect the orchards, but the wind is blowing the fire towards them.”
Local farmers such as Emilia Vasconcellos fear the fire was deliberately set to clear the land, although no concrete evidence supports this claim.
The forest had already been cut in half by 2022 due to urban development under former President Jair Bolsonaro, whose policies weakened environmental protections and fueled deforestation in the Amazon.
The fire follows a record drought and increased fire in the Amazon, attributed to El Niño and exacerbated by climate change.
August saw the highest number of fires in the Amazon since 2010, signaling the ongoing environmental challenges for Brazil.
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