Fire advances in native Patagonian forests in southern Argentina

Some 6,000 hectares of native forests were consumed by an uncontrolled fire in the province of Chubut, Patagonia region in southern Argentina, while firefighters are fighting another outbreak in an important natural reserve in the neighboring province of Río Negro, this reported. Tuesday authorities.

In Chubut, the strong wind and high temperatures fueled the flames in the Los Alerces National Park – declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its biodiversity – where thousands of hectares of native forest have been burning since January 25, in a fire not yet controlled that the provincial government presumes began intentionally.

The advance of the flames forced the preventive evacuation of about six families residing in nearby rural areas, while the fire front is seven kilometers from the mountain city of Esquel, with 35,000 inhabitants, reported the Provincial Fire Management Service.

“Today (Tuesday) work is being done in nine different sectors to combat the flames”, Laura Mirantes, secretary of Citizen Liaison of the province, informed El Chubut FM radio.

The weather complicates the tasks of the brigade members. The Meteorological Service estimated that the relative ambient humidity is 30% and no major rains are expected for the next few days. Then strong winds and very high temperatures will follow.

The Chubut Fire Management Service reported that as of Tuesday, about 6,000 hectares of native forests, shrubs and grasslands burned.

Hydrant planes, helicopters, reconnaissance drones and road machines work to combat the flames with the collaboration of brigade members from other provinces, bringing together a team of 400 troops.

In addition, another fire broke out in the Nahuel Huapi National Park – one of the first Argentine natural reserves – in its area of ​​​​the neighboring province of Río Negro, a Patagonian pre-mountain area that is difficult to access, covered in forests and close to the tourist town of San Carlos. from Bariloche.

The focus burns in the southern area of ​​the park, in the Brazo Tristeza area, which can only be accessed by boat through the lakes.

Several tourist circuits were closed preventively, among them those that lead to the visited Llao-Llao and Tronador hills in Bariloche. Also mountain refuges.

In the middle of the summer high season full of tourists, there is a special recommendation to travel on roads and routes in the area due to low visibility caused by smoke.

The authorities estimate that the fire started due to the campers’ recklessness. As of Monday night, the second fire affected about 200 hectares.