Brigades are battling unusually early and intense blazes in the
Brazilian Amazon. The wildfire season here got off to
its worst start in 20 years. According to government
data, following a record breaking drought aggravated by global
warming raging across the Amazon, including in the town
of Oui, often start on cattle ranches where locals
are converting the jungle into pasture. But this year
is different. Extremely dry conditions have made it easier
for blazes to advance into the rain forest which rarely
burns under normal conditions. So far this year,
the area burned in the Brazilian Amazon has nearly doubled
compared to the same period last year. Firefighters say
the town of Oui is a tinder box after more
than a month without any rain and it's likely to
get worse fires in the Amazon typically peak in August
and September before seasonal rains arrive.