More than 200 brigades, with the support of 9 airplanes and 8 helicopters, were fighting this Sunday the forest fires registered in the areas of Bariloche, Aluminé and Cerro Radal (Lago Puelo area) and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development reinforced the shipment of resources to combat these outbreaks that are affecting the provinces of Chubut, Río Negro and Neuquén, in the Patagonian region, it was officially reported.
86 combatants were working to put out the fire in the Nahuel Huapi National Park area, in Bariloche, with the support of an amphibious plane, an observer and two helicopters with helibals, as well as a Unimog truck, three hydrant trucks, one communications, 11 Pick up trucks, a transfer truck and two boats.
These last equipments were added due to the difficulties of visibility for the work of the media areas, according to the Ministry of Environment reported through a press release, where it was specified that the Director of Operations of the National Fire Management Service (SNMF) is there. ), Lorena Ojeda, and a regional coordinator.
Meanwhile, in Aluminé, Neuquén, there is an active focus in the Lote 39 zone -controlled in Pehuén-Co and contained in Chapelco- where 84 brigades work to fight the fire, with five hydrant planes and four helicopters and the director is present. SNMF national, Alberto Seufferheld, a coordinator and a technical assistant.
In addition, the province of Neuquén incorporated a helicopter and private sectors contributed two more helicopters to fight the fire in Aluminé.
#Civil protection | The Regional Emergency Committee reported that, as in previous days, the conditions of atmospheric stability in the area of the fire, which imply a lot of smoke, make it impossible to visualize the perimeter of the fire and the activity. pic.twitter.com/uFGHjWN7Zi
– Government of Río Negro (@rionegrogob) December 25, 2021
In Chubut the fires in Tehuelches are controlled and in Río Senguer and Futaleufú contained and to combat the fires of Cerro Radal, Lake Puelo area, a coordinator of the Central Region of the SNMF and 56 brigades worked, with the support of two hydrant planes. two helicopters and two fire trucks. as reported.
The Ministry of the Environment recalled that, together with the Defense, Interior and Security portfolios, they make up a crisis committee that “is on permanent alert to provide the necessary support to combat forest fires in Patagonia.”
For his part, the president of the National Parks Administration (APN), Lautaro Errathú, flew over the areas affected by the fires in Patagonia and specified: “the head of the fire presented less spread than in previous days, allowing the development of tasks combat in said sector “.
And he added: “it is a complex access area with a single entry and exit path. No evacuation work had to be done, nor were any affected homes reported.”
#Fire | Cordillera: more than 130 combatants work in the fire of #LakePuelo
⚠️ So far the fire has advanced with different levels of intensity on 90 hectares
? https://t.co/Sa8RioWNOE#One more step pic.twitter.com/suxUVQLKe1
– Government of Chubut (@gobiernochubut) December 25, 2021
Erratchú was accompanied by the mayor of the Lanín National Park, Salvador Vellido, and the national director of the Fire Management Service, Alberto Suefferheld.
“Along with the fire fighting in the Lake Martin and Lake Steffen areas, direct communication is maintained with the inhabitants of the area, while working with a major operation in the place,” added a statement from the APN.
Also, a crew worked on the “Isthmus” on both sides, and developed tasks that prevent the fire from “jumping” towards the North shore of Lake Steffen. In addition, brigadistas with a URO truck and water equipment carried out preventive tasks in Cohuin-co, the agency added.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights (APDH), from its northwestern region of the province of Chubut, demanded this Sunday “that more hydrant planes, resources and appropriate personnel be added” to end a fire that “already has 20 days of duration and that puts us on alert after having suffered, less than a year ago, one of the worst fires in history in the Andean region “.
“Although there are brigadistas working in the area, the hydrants that were trying to contain that fire were derived from the fire that occurred in Cerro Currumahuida,” added the APDH in a statement in which it indicated that “although it is logical that prioritize urban areas, the scarcity of resources means that the ecological disaster that this produces in the same areas is put aside. “
It should be noted that the fight against fire is a coordinated work together with the SPLIF; the National Fire Management Service; Argentine Federal Police; Civil Protection of San Carlos de Bariloche; Volunteer Firefighters Federation, El Bolson Volunteer Firefighters, Engineer Jacobacci Volunteer Firefighters; Sierra Colorada Volunteer Firefighters and Comallo Volunteer Firefighters, concluded the APN information.
