Chile: Uncontrolled Wildfire Threatens Homes in Valparaíso Region

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A major forest fire has spread in recent hours in Chile’s central coastal area. The fire is threatening homes close to the flames. Authorities issued a red alert and immediately evacuated at least two villages in an area particularly rich in forest and vegetation. The air in the surrounding areas is unbreathable and a complex situation is expected given the weather conditions that favor the spread of the flames.

On Thursday night an emergency call summoned personnel from the National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) and the Fire Department to the Lago Peñuelas region, a forest reserve located in the Chilean region of Valparaiso.

However, as time went by, the fire continued to spread until it became out of control in recent hours. It has thus become a declared forest fire in which all of the region’s resources have been committed and reinforcements from the Santiago Metropolitan Region are now needed.

At noon on Friday, the temperature in the area reached 30ºC, the humidity and the strong wind favored the flames to move in new directions and created four spots in parallel. So far, 120 hectares have been consumed, and sadly this figure will continue to grow due to the weather conditions expected for the coming hours.

An emergency committee headed by Valparaíso Mayor Jorge Martinez was formed in the regional capital’s offices, which provided details on the operations being carried out to fight the fires. “The fire is heading north and the four hotspots are highly active, we have 12 helicopters and eight planes to prevent it from spreading to homes. We are worried about the environmental conditions, it is highly dangerous and it is rapidly advancing,” he declared.

Another ten aircraft from central and southern Chile were expected to arrive at the time. Given that this is an area comprised of forests, the evacuation of two towns had already been planned, and new similar measures may be ordered as the flames spread.

For his part, CONAF director Sandro Bruzzone stressed that the conditions are “extremely dangerous”. “There are houses nearby, that’s where we fight harder with heavy machinery and setting up firewalls”.

Chilean government officials reported that Interior Minister Rodrigo Delgado would be heading to the area to coordinate the emergency protocol for fighting the fire along with regional authorities.

Source: infobae