Mato Grosso recorded the highest number of fire outbreaks in Brazil in March, with 1,624 outbreaks between the 1st and 31st, according to data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe). Since January this year, there have been 3,334 outbreaks, the second highest number in the countryalso a record for the first quarter.
The main causes of fire outbreaks were:
- Burns without authorization: According to experts, most areas with fire outbreaks do not have controlled burning authorization.
- Dry: The state is facing a reduction in rainfall and this affects the water balance, being one of the causes of the increase in fires.
- High temperatures: Another factor that affects the increase in outbreaks is high temperatures, especially due to the effect of El Niño since last year.
10 states with the highest number of outbreaks in March 2024
| state | number of outbreaks |
| Mato Grosso | 1,624 |
| Roraima | 1,378 |
| Bahia | 400 |
| Mato Grosso do Sul | 307 |
| Tocantins | 222 |
| Goiás | 214 |
| Minas Gerais | 182 |
| Maranhão | 157 |
| São Paulo | 137 |
| Piauí | 117 |
According to Inpe, in January 2024, 847 outbreaks were registered and, in February, 863 in MT. In March, the number of fire outbreaks in 2024 (1,624) is greater than that recorded in 2020when the Pantanal broke a historic record for fire outbreaks and burned 4.5 million hectares, in 21 municipalities in Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, caused by an extreme drought. This year, the number of outbreaks was 12% higher than in 2020.
In 2023, 576 fires were recorded in March.
According to the data, 12 of the 20 municipalities that recorded the most fire outbreaks are in Mato Grosso. Nova Maringá is 6th in the ranking, with 141 records. In second place, the city of Brasnorte, with 85 outbreaks, in 10th position.
According to Inpe, among the states that recorded the most fires in this period, after Mato Grosso, are: Roraima, with 1,378; Bahia, with 400 outbreaks, Mato Grosso do Sul, with 307 and Tocantins, with 222.
Check out the 10 municipalities in MT that recorded the most fires in March 2024:
Among these 10 municipalities, at least 8 are mainly located in the Amazon biome.
