Documentary photographer Lalo de Almeida from São Paulo has captured the brutal reality of the Pantanal fires in Brazil. After winning top awards like the World Press Photo for his photo essay 'Pantanal Ablaze' in 2021 and the Eugene Smith grant in 2022, Almeida continues to expose the damage caused by these wildfires. In 2020, Almeida and a fellow journalist visited the Pantanal to see the fires firsthand. They found the blaze out of control with almost no firefighting. "The unbearable heat, the noise of the burning vegetation, the suffocating smoke, all covered by an orange light, is a scene I will never forget. Pure apocalypse," Almeida said. The fires forced many animals to flee or perish. Marsh deer sheltered in ponds along the main BR-262 road, looking stunned and lost. Almeida witnessed dead and burned wildlife, including tapirs, monkeys, birds, alligators, snakes, and tortoises. "The animals looked like zombies, completely lost," he said. Firefighters faced extreme challenges. Almeida met a firefighter who said, "There’s nothing more to be done here. The fire in the Pantanal will only end when it rains or when everything burns down. Whichever comes first." In August 2024, the fires ignited again fiercely. Almeida returned to record the horror. What began as small fires quickly grew into walls of flames driven by wind. The heat and smoke created a hellish scene. Almeida described the experience as terrifying and haunting. He also spent time with the Prevfogo fire brigade, Brazil’s top forest firefighters. These men worked long hours in dangerous heat and smoke to try to contain the blazes. Almeida called them "anonymous heroes." The photographer worries the 2020 fires are becoming the "new normal" as wildfires strike repeatedly with little time for nature to recover. Despite better awareness and preparation, the fires continue burning. Through his striking images, Almeida wants people worldwide to connect with the Pantanal tragedy. "We are all connected on this planet," he said. Almeida’s work with Luciano Candisani is currently on display at the Science Museum in London until May 31, 2024, in an exhibit called Water Pantanal Fire.