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This study investigated the pattern distribution of fires in the Brazilian Amazon and their relationship with deforested areas from 2003 to 2022. The primary objective was to analyze fire spots’ spatial and temporal variation. First, we examine whether open vegetation (non-forest areas) in the Amazon exhibit a higher density of fire spots than forested areas. Second, we analyze how the density of fire spots in deforested areas varies with the time elapsed since deforestation. Using recent fire monitoring data and satellite imagery, the study employed statistical techniques to reveal significant patterns and trends. Our findings indicate that fire spot density is associated with deforestation in forested lands; however, this relationship does not hold for non-forest ecosystems. Fire spots are more frequent in years with higher deforestation rates, exhibiting similar trends in both forested and non-forested areas. Nevertheless, fire spot density is generally higher in originally forested lands subjected to anthropogenic activities compared to non-forest areas experiencing similar disturbances. In contrast, fires are more common in non-forest ecosystems with minimal or no disturbance compared to forested areas. Additionally, we observe variations in fire spot density over time in deforested areas, with higher densities occurring in the year the forest was cleared. In non-forest vegetation, the frequency of fires is similar in natural and anthropized areas, but both are lower compared to areas where vegetation has been recently suppressed. This study enhances our understanding of the environmental impacts of deforestation and provides valuable insights for formulating management and conservation policies in the Amazon.

The geographic data utilization for the occurrence of wildfires and forest fires for monitoring fire usage in vegetation has become increasingly important for generating information that aids in decision-making and policy development regarding climate change and its impacts. This study aims to validate the active fire data processed by INPE’s Queimadas Program at Serra da Canastra National Park during the first semester of 2023. This period is characterized by lower intensity of fire thermal radiation due to meteorological and climatic factors such as lightning, precipitation, and temperature. We compared active fire data from the MODIS and VIIRS sensors with 220 fire scars mapped by the Sentinel-2 satellite. Additionally, we analyzed the distribution of active fire data across different classifications of fire scar size. The validation rate was 99.4% for VIIRS and 95% for MODIS, with few commission errors (false positives). However, omissions (false negatives) were observed in detecting scars smaller than 1 km2, related to both sensor characteristics and fire behavior. The results were satisfactory, indicating that future studies can further refine this research.