Authorities in the Tolima department of Colombia have declared a red alert in several municipalities following a surge of forest fires [1].

The crisis threatens significant portions of the region's biodiversity and puts local communities at risk during a period of extreme heat. With nearly 60% of the territory currently under alert [6], the scale of the blazes has strained local emergency resources.

Erika Marcela Lozano, the secretary of Environment and Risk Management of Tolima, and Andrea Mayorquín, the director of Risk Management, are coordinating the response [1]. The region has faced a severe escalation in fire activity since May 2026, with approximately 151 conflagrations reported since that time [1]. In one recent 24-hour period, officials reported 40 active fires [3].

Local officials point to a combination of high temperatures and improper human practices as the primary drivers of the disaster. The vast majority of these incidents are not natural occurrences. "El 90% de los incendios son provocados," Lozano said [1].

There are conflicting reports regarding the exact number of municipalities under the highest level of alert. One report indicates that 17 municipalities are in red alert [4], while another source states that three municipalities have reached that status [3].

The department continues to struggle with a lack of sufficient resources to control the spreading flames. The combination of human-caused ignitions and dry conditions has created a volatile environment across the Colombian landscape [2].

“"El 90% de los incendios son provocados"”

The high percentage of human-caused fires in Tolima suggests that the current crisis is not merely a result of climatic conditions, but a failure of land management and public adherence to safety protocols. The discrepancy in the number of municipalities under red alert indicates a rapidly evolving situation or fragmented reporting, highlighting the difficulty of coordinating a disaster response across a territory where a majority of the land is at risk.