“If these fires continue, we indigenous people will die,” warns Raimundinha Rodrigues Da Sousa, leader of the volunteer fire service for the Caititu indigenous community in the Brazilian Amazon.
The community’s land, legally protected under the Brazilian constitution, has been engulfed in flames for over 15 days, posing a serious threat to both the environment and the health of local residents.
“Today it is killing the plants, and soon it will be us, because we inhale so much smoke,” she states, highlighting the dangerous levels of smoke that her community is forced to breathe in.
“It is a very aggressive fire that destroys everything in its path,” she added, revealing how her father has also suffered from respiratory issues exacerbated by the smoke.
“I can’t sleep due to a lack of air. It wakes me up; I feel like I’m drowning,” he lamented.
The Amazon rainforest has witnessed unprecedented destruction, with over 62,000 square kilometers burned this year alone—an area larger than many countries. This environmental catastrophe not only threatens biodiversity but also the planet’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide.
Experts identify that most of these fires are deliberately set by individuals looking to exploit land for logging, mining, and agriculture, making natural fires in this humid environment exceedingly rare.
Fires are increasingly encroaching on protected reserves and indigenous territories, and at fire scenes, community members frequently find evidence of arson, such as gasoline bottles and matches.
Desperate to protect their homeland, Raimundinha and her brigade encounter devastating scenes—a landscape littered with charred trees and a degraded environment as they battle flames with limited resources.
Indigenous chief Ze Bajaga insists that many of these infernos are intentional acts of arson by those who disregard both humanity and nature.
While deforestation rates have slowed in recent years, rampant lawlessness continues to plague the region, undermining governmental efforts to curb illegal activities.
Although laws require private landowners to conserve significant portions of their property, enforcement remains weak. Certain areas are not protected, making them particularly susceptible to exploitation.
Local farmers, like Dorismar Luiz Baruffi, acknowledge the pressures of farming but express concern over the environmental impact of the fires.
Brazil is grappling with its most severe drought ever, which has turned once-moist soil into tinder, exacerbating the fire crisis. The drought has lowered river levels across the country, cutting off access to vital water resources for many communities.
João Mendonça shares the struggles of his community living along a dried-up river, now forced to walk long distances for water, a journey that poses significant risks, especially for the elderly and sick.
“It’s the worst drought I’ve ever seen. There are days when I can’t do anything; I need help just to reach the city,” he explained.
The drought has also hampered agricultural production, leading to food shortages and economic hardships for many local families.
As the fires rage on and drought conditions persist, families like those of Sandra Gomes Vieira are facing unprecedented challenges in accessing healthcare and sustaining their livelihoods.
“Before, it was easier to reach the city for medical help; now, it’s a struggle through burning sand,” she lamented, illustrating the harsh realities emerging from this environmental crisis.
The situation paints a grim picture of the interconnectedness between human actions and the environment, with indigenous leaders urging everyone to recognize the consequences of neglecting nature.
