Fuel shortage complicates the fight against the fires and help is requested for firefighters

The fire has already consumed more than 200,000 hectares, there are large fires in different areas. municipalities and tasks are complicated by the lack of fuel which paralyzes the machinery to continue in the fight against the flames.

In Roboré, one of the municipalities with the greatest impact, they cry out for support to fight the fires that threaten communities.

“There is a shortage of vehicles and fuel. The municipal government has no more funds and is knocking on every possible door to be able to transport the firefighters. There are communal brigades, but they are also needed vehicles and fuel, they are moving with the last thing they have,” said Rubén Darío Arias Ortiz, president of the Management Committee of the Protected Area and UCPN Tucabaca.

Arias reported that the Emergency Operations Committee Municipal (COEM) was activated this Monday, it was created the incident command and began sending letters to different institutions to ask for help.

Other residents indicated that a tanker has already stopped due to lack of diesel. They also warn that the fire is out of control and there is a lack of help for the firefighterssuch as water, sports drinks and non-perishable foods.

The chief of the San Lorenzo Nuevo community, Leonardo Rodríguez Guerrero, reported that they have not been able to sleep for three days, since the fire started, But there are three groups of firefighters who are watching the way to control the flames with the use of heavy machinery.

“The fire has reached 150 meters from the community. Men and women have worked to alleviate the problem, and thank God prepared firefighters arrived. There is also machinery that has helped us,” he said.

They fear that the fire will affect the water intake. “We are afraid that the pipe will burn again.” As has happened in previous years, then There are people who are seeing that situation,” he said.

In this place they have prepared the communal house and the school to evacuate children and of the third Age. An ambulance is also ready to provide any type of assistance.

It hasn’t rained for eight months, so the mountain is dry and burns easily. Citrus plantations are affected by drought. “It’s quite sad, we lived off citrus, from lemon production, but many people no longer have it. to harvest and sell, because the plants are dry, the situation is desperate,” he said.

Daniela Justiniano, from Alas Chiquitanas, points out It is worrying that the critical season has not yet been reached. and large fires are already being recorded, such as those in Roboré.

These fires, which are out of control, require heavy machinery to be fought; yesHowever, fuel is lacking.

Justiniano points out that this situation had been warned about for more than a month: “What will be done if there is a fuel shortage? “It is not only needed for vehicles and logistics, but also for machinery.”

In his opinion, the lack of foresight on the part of the three levels of the State is evident, since no measures were taken to ensure the necessary resources. “The crisis was not known today, because the necessary precautions were not taken from the beginning.”

It highlights the need to tighten regulations, increase penalties and fines, and to carry out more rigorous monitoring of complaints to ensure that offenders are duly sanctioned. “If those responsible are not punished severely,“And if the laws don’t change, we will continue to face the same problems year after year,” he emphasizes.

He also notes the lack of coordination and cites Roboré as an example, which has been declared a disaster since July 10, but people are wondering what has happened since then between the municipality and the Governorate to have the necessary resources to deal with the emergency.

Justiniano also calls for attention to fires that are less visible on social media, such as the one in ANMI San Matías, which has already consumed almost 40,000 hectares of protected area in the last two weeks.

It highlights the urgent need to support firefighters on the front line. In addition to water, they require boots, gloves, batteries, and rehydration products such as salts and drinks to replenish minerals lost during exposure to the fire. Essential medications such as burn creams and eye drops are also needed.

In the department there are 26 fires and there are seven communities surrounded by fire. The Forest Firefighters instructor of the Governorate, Jaime Zorrilla, reported that they are Candelaria, Pozones, El Chorro, Lemons, Orange Trees, San Lorenzo Nuevo and San Lorenzo Viejo. The ABT met with the Police, the Prosecutor’s Office and the Legislative Assembly to reinforce actions against the fires.