A wildfire in the Usquil district of Otuzco province, in Peru's La Libertad region, destroyed 17 hectares of vegetation and farmland after burning for three days, according to the region's Emergency Operations Center, known as COER La Libertad.
The fire damaged eucalyptus forests, pastureland and plots of peas and corn that local farmers had been cultivating in the area.
The emergency began on the morning of September 9 in the hamlet of Huacamochal. Residents and local authorities took part in efforts to contain the flames, which spread across the district's vegetation and cropland before firefighting teams and volunteers managed to bring the situation under control.
Eucalyptus forests and crops damaged
The fire affected several types of vegetation cover in Usquil, including areas of eucalyptus forest, pastureland and land used for farming. Among the crops caught by the flames were parcels of peas and corn.
Otuzco is one of the provinces of La Libertad, a region on Peru's northern coast known for its agriculture and, in its highland districts such as Usquil, for eucalyptus plantations and small-scale farming. Fires in such areas can spread quickly through dry pasture and forest cover, especially where access for firefighting crews is difficult.
Containment work began within hours of the fire breaking out. According to COER La Libertad, the flames were brought under control after 3pm on the first day, September 9. However, the emergency did not end there, as the fire reignited the following day.
How the fire reignited twice before being extinguished
The flames reappeared at around 8am on September 10 and remained active for much of that day before being controlled again that night. Crews continued working through the night because of the risk that the fire could spread further.
The situation grew more difficult again the next day. Strong winds and intense solar radiation contributed to a fresh reactivation of the fire on September 11, with flames advancing toward areas that were hard to reach. Residents and authorities resumed efforts to stop the fire from spreading any further.
After three days of emergency response, the fire was finally brought under control and extinguished at 11pm on September 11. The total area affected reached 17 hectares, according to the damage report compiled after the emergency, with the fire's advance into difficult terrain complicating the work of those involved in fighting it.
Authorities urge caution over open fires
Following the incident, COER La Libertad recommended avoiding the burning of vegetation and the use of open fire, particularly in areas close to pastureland and eucalyptus forests, because of the risk of wildfires spreading in the region.
