The fires in Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, marked a Sunday of maximum alert for the authorities.
Yesterday, four grassland fire outbreaks in a single day tested the volunteer firefighters and the police.
Meanwhile, specialists warn that the drought and the heat will make this summer particularly critical for the Patagonian region.
The incidents occurred between the early morning and the afternoon of December 28, without causing casualties or significant material damage.
However, the frequency of the events raised alarms about the adverse weather conditions the city will face in the coming months.
Days ago, the Comodoro Rivadavia firefighters warned that this summer will be “very complicated” due to the heat and the drought, which exponentially increases the possibility of fires.
Comodoro Rivadavia: four fires in less than 24 hours
The first fire this Sunday in Comodoro Rivadavia was recorded at 1:20 in the early morning in a vacant lot located at the intersection of Barceló and La Razón streets, in the Pueyrredón neighborhood.
Personnel from the Fifth Sectional Police Station attended along with firefighters, who extinguished the flames quickly.
By noon, at 12:30, another outbreak was activated in the Fracción 15 Neighborhood. Again, emergency teams worked to control the fire in another unused lot.
The afternoon brought two more events that raised concern. Around 17:00, officers from the Próspero Palazzo Police Station responded to a call in the Km 17 Neighborhood, on 26th Street.
There, the fire originated inside a house after the burning of garbage in adjacent lots, although neighbors initially managed to contain it.
Almost simultaneously, at 17:30, another team was mobilized to the former Guilford company, on Juan Pévet near Hipólito Yrigoyen Avenue.
A fire truck from the Central Station had to intervene to extinguish another grassland fire in the area.
Burning waste: the practice that increases the risk
One of the fires in Comodoro was caused by the burning of garbage, a prohibited practice that is especially dangerous under current conditions.
According to the police report, the fire started “due to the burning of garbage in adjacent lots”.
The high temperatures and the winds characteristic of the region amplify the risk of these outbreaks quickly getting out of control.
Recommendations for the community
Given the recurrence of fires in Comodoro Rivadavia, the authorities issued a series of essential measures to prevent new accidents:
- Do not burn garbage, grasslands, or pruning remains
- Avoid the use of fireworks
- Keep vacant lots clean
- Do not throw cigarette butts or lit matches
- Do not leave bottles or glass abandoned in areas exposed to the sun
- Make campfires only in authorized places
- Give immediate notice upon detecting smoke or fire
The authorities reminded that the cleaning of vacant lots is the responsibility of the owners, who must remove weeds and waste that could act as fuel during the critical months.
The combination of drought, extreme heat, and risky practices creates a scenario that demands maximum caution.
Emergency services remain on alert constantly as the community faces a summer that promises unprecedented environmental challenges in Comodoro Rivadavia, with the risk of fires.
