VideosAlmost 8000 hectares burned. The two outbreaks of fires that devastate the native forest of Patagonia are still activeBy Paz García Pastormerlo

SAN CARLOS DE BARILOCHE.– The two fire outbreaks that affect northern Patagonia, in the Nahuel Huapi and Los Alerces national parks, remain active. The latter has already been going on for 15 days and has consumed some 7,808 hectares of native forest. Meanwhile, almost 50 combatants joined today to fight the fire that started this Monday in the Brazo Tristeza of Lake Nahuel Huapi. Thunderstorms are expected in this area.

In the case of the fire that broke out on January 25 in the Los Alerces National Park, the latest report, released this morning, indicates that fire suppression actions were reinforced in areas with nearby rural populations, and the maintenance of vehicular access roads. The focus began on the slopes of La Torta hill, near Rosales Bay on Lake Futalaufquen, about 55 kilometers from the city of Esquel, and is now advancing towards that town.

Fighting fire in Arroyo CretónFabián Lagos – National Parks Press

According to reports from that protected area, the general combat strategy continues to combine actions between ground personnel and auxiliary resources, such as aircraft and road machinery. The fleet of drones and observation aircraft are used to monitor the situation. The air support established by the National Fire Management Service (SNMF) has the alternating operation of helicopters and hydrant planes, at the request of the Unified Command.

Today maximum temperatures of 25ºC and winds of between 15 and 25 km/h are recorded in that area from the western sector, that is, with less intensity than in recent days. Some 415 people work in the operation, to which 45 brigade members from the province of Santa Fe joined yesterday (they were transferred to the Esquel airport in a C-Hércules 130 managed at the request of the Ministry of the Interior).

He Secretary of Tourism, Sports and Environment of the Nation, Daniel Scioli, He was in Los Alerces park today together with Chubut governor Ignacio Torres. “This time, we are going to go all out so that these criminals are where they need to be, which is prisoners. The Minister of Security is working together with the federal forces, and with the Federal Justice, we constitute ourselves as plaintiffs, and we understand that the national State, too,” said Torres, in reference to people who “tried to reactivate fire sources in different areas of the city” of Esquel.

This Tuesday, the Chubut Government offered a reward of 5 million pesos to anyone who “offers concrete information about those responsible for the outbreaks that originated in the Los Alerces National Park and in different parts of the Cordillera.”

The fire in Nahuel Huapi started last MondayNahuel Huapi National Park Press

As indicated by the Chubut Government, the proposal guarantees the total confidentiality of the identity of people who collaborate with reliable data. “Those who have information should call 101, and then be referred to the investigation body,” they added.

High complexity

The latest report on the fire in the Nahuel Huapi park indicates that the brigade members worked yesterday in a highly complex terrain with abundant rolling material of large trees falling.

“On the left flank (Cerro CAB) we worked within the proposed tactics, trying to secure the perimeter with water and hand tools in a direct attack and aerial means, intending to deepen this task, trying to anchor the line for tomorrow ( for today), incorporating more combatants in the sector,” they added.

Today there are 86 total combatants, with the arrival of 44 brigade members from national parks in the NOA and NEA regions and from the Neuquén Provincial Fire Management System.

Likewise, on the right flank of the fire (Cerro Capitan), the line of defense built with hand tools and tandem motor pumps continues today to be strengthened and expanded, and with the collaboration of aerial means. Two helicopters with buckets and a Fireboss amphibious plane operate at the site. The Llao Llao Hotel heliport was established as a refueling point.

The fire in Los Alerces National Park has been going on for two weeks nowNational Parks Press

Despite the winds and poor visibility that affected the tasks of the air resources yesterday, the Incident Command reported that both the goals set for the crews on the ground and those of the aircraft are being met.

The authorities warned that entry to Brazo Tristeza “of any individual is prohibited, given that images taken by individuals inside the fire are observed, putting their own physical integrity and the firefighting operation at risk.” The entrance to Bahía López and the Brazo Tristeza viewpoint also remains closed.

In the area that includes the burned area there are tree species of high conservation value, such as coihue forest, mixed forest (coihue and cypress) and lenga forest, mainly. They also inhabit Vertebrate Species of Special Value (EVVES) such as the huillín (emblem species of the protected area and in danger of extinction), the huemul, also in danger of extinction and a species considered a National Natural Monument.

Paz García Pastormerlo

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FirePatagonia

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