The authorities in Bolivia have declared a state of emergency in the country because of thousands of fires affecting the country. Bolivia has requested help from neighbouring Brazil and Argentina. The President Avo Morales admitted that the Government could not fight them adequately because it lacks fire fighting aircraft. He said they were mostly caused by farmers clearing land ahead of the planting season. However, this year the fires spread quickly because of the insufficient rainfall. Almost twenty five thousand fires destroyed around a million and a half hectares of land and more than sixty houses. The fires have also hindered air traffic and forced many airports to close for short periods due to poor visibility.