Some 6,000 hectares of native forest have been consumed by runaway outbreaks in Chubut, Patagonia, while firefighters are battling another blaze at a major nature reserve in the neighbouring province of Río Negro.
In Chubut, the strong wind and high temperatures have fed the flames at the Los Alerces National Park, recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO due to its biodiversity. Since January 25, thousands of hectares of native forest have been burning in a fire that has still not been controlled and which the provincial government alleges started intentionally.
The advancement of the flames forced the pre-emptive evacuation of some six families residing in nearby rural areas, while the fire is just seven kilometres from the Andean city of Esquel, home to 35,000 inhabitants, as reported the provincial fire management service.
“Today [Tuesday] nine different sectors are being worked on to fight the flames,” informed Laura Mirantes, provincial Citizen Liaison Secretary, in a radio interview..
The climate complicates their task. The Weather Service has estimated relative humidity at 30 percent, and no major rain is expected within the next few days. Afterwards, the strong winds and very high temperatures will continue.
Chubut fire management team reported that as of Tuesday, some 6,000 hectares of native forest, bush and pasture had been burning.
Planes, helicopters, reconnaissance drones and road machinery are all being employed to fight the flames with the co-operation of firefighters from other provinces, totalling a team of 400 people.
Another fire also broke out in Nahuel Huapi National Park, one of the earliest nature reserves in Argentina, which is an area on the foothills of the Andes that cannot be easily accessed, covered in forest and near the touristic city of San Carlos de Bariloche.
The fire is burning in the southern area of the park, in the Brazo Tristeza area, which can only be accessed by boat on the lakes.
Several touristic circuits have been pre-emptively closed, including the popular Llao-Llao and Tronador areas in Bariloche, as well as mountain refuges.
In the middle of the high summer season with many tourists in the area, authorities are recommending visitors circulate on paths and routes in the area due to low visibility caused by the smoke.
Authorities estimate that the fire started due to recklessness by campers. As of Monday evening, the second fire was affecting some 200 hectares.
–TIMES/AFP
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