Bolivia wildfires: Farmers, families flee homes as fires ravage Santa Cruz

Farmers in Santa Cruz, Bolivia packed up and fled their homes and pastures in a bid to escape rapidly approaching fires that are among the worst the country has seen. The southern hemisphere nation has recorded the largest number of outbreaks of wildfires in 14 years, with 7.5 million acres of land burned already this year and peak fire season still ahead. The government has granted more permissions to use slash-and-burn methods to clear land, boosting beef production to a record last year, official data show. Fines for illegal burning - less than 2 bolivianos (30 U.S. cents) per hectare - are too low, said climate policy specialist Pablo Solon. For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ Follow Global News on X HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB #GlobalNews #wildfires