Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management confirmed on Monday, 25 August that 12 wildfires remain active across three departments as the country battles worsening conditions linked to the El Nino climate pattern. The agency reported that 84 fires had been extinguished over the preceding seven days, even as active blazes continued to strain local response capacity.

Where the Fires Are Burning

The active fires are concentrated primarily in the department of Tolima, which accounts for 10 of the 12 active blazes. The departments of Caldas and Huila each report one active fire. The municipality of Coello in Tolima has emerged as one of the hardest-hit areas, with six active fire spots spread across three rural zones.

Coello in Critical Condition

Santiago Herrera, mayor of Coello, described the municipality as being in a critical situation, citing high temperatures, strong winds, and the sheer number of simultaneous fire fronts as factors making full containment extremely difficult. He said approximately 100 specialists in rescue and wildfire response were working alongside local residents, but that ground crews faced serious logistical strain attempting to cover all affected points.

Herrera has called for immediate national government intervention, specifically requesting aerial support. 'Only aerial support,' he said, 'could help lower temperatures and allow ground crews to reach the fire spots more effectively.' More than 2,000 hectares have been affected in Coello alone, impacting around 7,000 people, particularly in the rural area of Chaguala.

El Nino's Role and Timeline

Colombia's wildfires began in early August and are primarily attributed to El Nino conditions — a natural climate pattern driven by the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. Authorities warn that El Nino conditions could persist in the country until March 2027, raising fears of a prolonged fire season with limited relief in sight.

This comes amid a broader global climate signal: the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported on Monday that the daily global average sea surface temperature reached 21.1 degrees Celsius on 22 August, surpassing the previous record of 21.09 degrees Celsius set in March 2024. Scientists say such ocean warming directly amplifies El Nino-driven droughts and fire conditions in South America.

What Comes Next

With aerial assets identified as the critical gap in the response, pressure is mounting on Colombia's national government to deploy helicopter support to Tolima and other affected departments. If El Nino conditions hold through early 2027 as projected, fire managers and disaster agencies face the prospect of managing wildfire risk for well over a year. The situation in Coello and the broader Tolima region will serve as a bellwether for how effectively Colombia can scale its disaster response under sustained climate stress.