The forest fire in Cafayate has reactivated due to the Zonda wind, already affecting about 200 hectares of native forests in the Valles Calchaquíes. The hotspots are concentrated near National Route 68, in the vicinity of the local airfield.
Volunteer firefighters and the provincial Forest Brigade are battling the flames, while the Ministry of Security of Salta has reinforced the operation and Civil Defense has activated the national alert. The Federal Emergency Agency (AFE) is assisting with a 3,000-liter turboprop water bomber and national brigades.
Adverse weather conditions
The Chief of Volunteer Firefighters of Cafayate, Gabriel Domingo, explained that wind gusts exceeded 70 km/h, which facilitated the spread of the fire.
Although the environmental damage is considerable, the cooler conditions of recent days have allowed for partial containment of the flames.
Main causes of forest fires in Argentina
Forest fires in the country are a recurring socio-environmental crisis, with 95% of the hotspots caused by human action:
- Human action: poorly extinguished campfires, cigarette butts, burning of grasslands, and land clearing.
- Real estate speculation: fires set to clear land for commercial purposes.
- Climate crisis: prolonged droughts, high temperatures, and strong winds that facilitate spreading.
- Structural factors: failures in the electrical grid and proliferation of highly flammable exotic pines.
Most vulnerable areas
- Andean Patagonia (Chubut, Río Negro, Neuquén): large-scale fires affecting protected areas like Los Alerces National Park.
- Central region (Córdoba): critical seasons with hundreds of thousands of hectares of native forest devastated.
- Paraná Delta (Entre Ríos, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires): fires in wetlands set to prepare pastures, with toxic smoke affecting nearby cities.
Regulatory framework and challenges
- Fire Management Law: prohibits land use change in burned areas for 30 to 60 years to prevent real estate speculation.
- Forest Law: requires territorial planning, although organizations report lack of funds and insufficient enforcement.
- Lack of resources: experts call for greater investment in prevention, more brigades, and equipment for the National Fire Management Service.
The fire in Cafayate reflects the fragility of ecosystems in the face of the combination of human negligence, climate crisis, and lack of structural prevention.
The immediate response with brigades and water bombers is vital, but the real challenge is to build sustained public policies that prioritize prevention, citizen education, and restoration of native forests.
