BRASILIA, Brazil: Firefighters have managed to contain much of a massive wildfire that raged for two days, destroying 20% of the National Forest of Brasilia, a key conservation area that provides 70% of the Brazilian capital’s freshwater.
The blaze, which broke out during the peak of the dry season, spread quickly due to dry vegetation and high temperatures, blanketing the city in smoke.
Officials suspect arson as the cause, though they are still investigating whether the fire was set intentionally. “We have put out three of the four blazes,” said Fabio dos Santos Miranda, forest manager, who noted that three suspects were seen in the area where the fire began. Efforts continue to prevent the flames from reaching nearby orchards.
The fire comes amid record droughts in the Amazon, worsened by climate change and deforestation policies under former President Jair Bolsonaro. The weakened rainy season has left the region more vulnerable to wildfires, with August seeing the highest fire levels since 2010.
