Venezuela's Fight Against Unprecedented Wildfires Amid Amazon Drought

Venezuela is currently facing a high number of wildfires, with data released on Monday showing a significant increase. This is happening as a result of a climate change-induced drought affecting the Amazon rainforest region.

According to Brazil's Inpe research agency, satellites have detected over 30,200 fire points in Venezuela between January and March. This marks the highest number recorded for this period since tracking began in 1999, with monitoring covering all of South America.

Fires are currently raging in the Amazon, along with other forests and grasslands in the country. These fires are mainly caused by humans who set them intentionally to clear land for farming. Due to the combination of high temperatures, low rainfall, and a lack of prevention planning in northern South America, these fires are spreading uncontrollably, according to researchers.

BOULDER, CO - MARCH 26: A firefighter watches as the NCAR Fire burns on March 26, 2022 in Boulder, Colorado. The wildfire, which has forced almost 20,000 people to evacuate their homes, started just a few miles away from where the Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in December, 2021. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

A firefighter is seen keeping a close eye on the NCAR Fire as it blazes through Boulder, Colorado on March 26, 2022. This wildfire has caused nearly 20,000 residents to evacuate from their homes. What's alarming is that it began just a short distance away from the area where the Marshall Fire had ravaged over 1,000 homes back in December 2021.

Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images

Related article

A plant that is found widespread is contributing to an increasing threat of wildfires. Researchers attribute the dry conditions to climate change and El Niño, a natural phenomenon that causes warming in the eastern Pacific Ocean and disrupts weather patterns worldwide.

The rainy season has provided some relief in the southern parts of Brazil's Amazon region. However, according to fire researcher Manoela Machado from the University of Oxford, the fires in Venezuela could be a cause for concern when the dry season arrives there.

Machado warned that there could be more catastrophic fires ahead, including megafires that are massive in size and intensity.

The most severe fires in the region usually happen in Brazil during August and September, particularly along the southeastern edge of the Amazon where deforestation for agriculture is at its peak.

In Venezuela, around 400 firefighters worked to contain a large fire over the Easter holiday weekend. The blaze poses a threat to the beautiful Henri Pittier National Park, known for its rare cloud forests and stunning beachfront location, as reported by the national park service.

Carlos Carruido Perez, a resident living nearby, expressed his shock and alarm at the fire. He had never witnessed such a large-scale fire causing significant damage to the environment.

Last month, Venezuela's environment ministry announced a collaborative effort involving helicopters and extra resources to combat the fires in Henri Pittier.

The ministry said last week it was mounting further firefighting efforts along a highway that cuts through the park.

An aerial view shows a burned forest after a forest fire in Henri Pittier National Park on March 30.

An aerial view shows a burned forest after a forest fire in Henri Pittier National Park on March 30.

Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters

A Bolivarian National Police helicopter flies over during a wildfire in the Henri Pittier National Park on March 29.

A Bolivarian National Police helicopter flies over during a wildfire in the Henri Pittier National Park on March 29.

In Venezuela's Amazon region further south, there are currently 5,690 active fires as of late March, based on data from NASA. This number represents more than half of all the fires burning in the entire Amazon region spanning nine countries.

Guayana City, Venezuela's largest urban center in the Amazon, is currently covered in smoke from the fires, as reported by a witness from Reuters.

Local media has stated that in the nearby town of Uverito, 315 families were evacuated from their homes due to the fire threat.

A massive 360 square kilometers have been engulfed in flames in Uverito, which is six times larger than Manhattan. This information comes from Jose Rafael Lozada, a forestry engineer and former professor at Universidad de Los Andes in Merida, Venezuela.

The firefighters in the area have been nothing short of miraculous in their efforts to combat the raging fires.

The ongoing hot and dry weather conditions that are fueling fires in Venezuela are also causing fires to spread into Brazil's Roraima state, posing a threat to indigenous reserves in the area.

According to Michael Coe, director of the tropics program at the US-based Woodwell Climate Research Center, both Venezuela and Roraima have experienced significantly low levels of rainfall, ranging from 10% to 25% of their normal levels, in the past 30 to 90 days.

The region is caught in a harmful cycle where climate change leads to dry and hot conditions that fuel fires. These fires then release greenhouse gases, worsening climate change even more, explained Lozada.

A reptile climbs on a burning tree in the municipality of Naguanagua, Carabobo State, Venezuela, on March 27.

A reptile climbs on a burning tree in the municipality of Naguanagua, Carabobo State, Venezuela, on March 27.

Juan Carlos Hernandez/AFP/Getty Images

Firefighters fight a forest fire in the municipality of Naguanagua, Carabobo State, Venezuela, on March 27.

Firefighters fight a forest fire in the municipality of Naguanagua, Carabobo State, Venezuela, on March 27.

Fires are not common in the wet rainforest naturally. It is mostly humans who start fires to clear land for farming and ranching, a practice that has been going on for a long time.

Lozada explained that during the Amazon drought, the vegetation becomes drier and the rainfall is scarce, leading to more extreme wildfires. This results in small burns escalating into large fires.

The Amazon drought has caused significant disruptions in the world's largest rainforest since last year. It has lowered river levels to record lows, endangered dolphins, and affected transportation of food and medicine to many cities.

Aerial view of wildfires in Texasm U.S., February 27, 2024 in this picture obtained from social media. Patrick Ryan/via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.

This aerial view shows wildfires in Texas, U.S. on February 27, 2024. The image was obtained from social media and credited to Patrick Ryan/via REUTERS. Please note that this image has been supplied by a third party and should be credited accordingly. No resales or archives are permitted.

Patrick Ryan/Reuters

Related article

A warming climate is creating conditions for wildfires to spread quickly and cause significant damage.

Governments in the region have access to ample data on fire activity and climate risks, but they have not taken sufficient action to effectively prevent and fight these fires, according to Oxford's Machado.

Governments should prohibit setting fires during dry periods, implement quicker and more targeted responses to prevent fires from escalating, and employ firefighters on a year-round basis rather than temporarily, according to her.

In Venezuela, Lozada, along with firefighters and other experts, criticized the government for its inadequate response.

Venezuela’s information ministry and parks service did not respond to requests for comment.

William Lopez, a union leader with the state-owned forestry company Maderas del Orinoco, expressed concern about the lack of equipment to fight forest fires in the unprotected forest. He mentioned that firefighters are struggling to combat fires without proper equipment, having to rely on miracles to do their job effectively.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the devastating wildfires raging in Venezuela, highlighting the severe consequences of climate change and human activities. The unprecedented number of fire points detected in the country serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need to address this escalating crisis. The fires are fueled by a combination of high temperatures, low rainfall, and the rampant practice of intentional land clearing for farming, creating an uncontrollable inferno that threatens both the environment and human lives.

This article underscores the importance of implementing effective fire prevention and suppression strategies, particularly in light of the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires. Governments in the region must take proactive measures, such as enforcing bans on fire setting during dry periods, enhancing early detection systems, and ensuring adequate resources for firefighters. By working together and prioritizing environmental protection, we can mitigate the devastating impacts of wildfires and safeguard the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.