At least two people were killed in wildfires in southern São Paulo state, Brazil, according to officials on Saturday. Due to the severity of the fires, 36 cities across the state have been placed on high alert. Wildfires in Brazil have so far harmed 480,000 people, with over 335 fires reported.

São Paulo state Governor Tarcísio de Freitas announced that local and federal authorities are intensifying efforts to control the wildfires. The fires have been raging in areas surrounding São Paulo, one of Latin America’s most populous cities with over 11 million residents.

The state government has placed 36 cities on “high alert” due to the ongoing wildfires. “We are chartering planes to spray water in addition to the fire department’s aircraft,” Governor Tarcísio de Freitas informed the media.

De Freitas reported that approximately 7,300 government workers and volunteers have been mobilized across the state to combat and extinguish the fires. He also cautioned that the flames, driven by a heatwave and drought conditions, could be exacerbated by strong winds.

Tragically, two factory workers lost their lives while battling the flames in the municipality of Urupês.

Wildfires surged through sugarcane fields in northern São Paulo state, blanketing adjacent towns in heavy smoke and prompting officials to prohibit outdoor sporting activities. A Brazilian football championship match at Ribeirão Preto, located in the state’s western section, was canceled as a result of the situation. Several state highways were also closed owing to low visibility. Local television broadcasts showed horrific images of cattle dying in the fields as a result of heat and smoke inhalation.

“The fire has devastated vegetation, destroyed homes, and claimed the lives of cattle. It’s incredibly difficult,” said 56-year-old Silvio Dantas in an interview with Reuters.

The São Paulo government has warned that 36 communities are on “high alert” owing to wildfires spreading during the peak of the dry season, which is marked by parched fields and high temperatures.

“We are arranging planes to spray water in addition to using fire department aircraft,” stated São Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas, who has established an emergency task force to address the crisis.

Despite the government’s efforts to control wildfires in Brazil, it is critical to witness the devastation worsen day after day.

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