The fire in the Quebrada del Condorito, the most complex of the year in Córdoba, reached 80% control after four days of intense work.
However, there is still an active focus in a difficult-to-access area of the National Park.
More than 200 firefighters and nine aircraft are fighting the fire that has already consumed 4,000 hectares since last Friday.
Additionally, extreme weather conditions complicate the extinguishing tasks.
“The fire remains active with low activity in the southwest sector of the park,” reported the Risk Management Secretariat this Monday.
Roberto Schreiner, head of the department, explained that the teams “are working to cool the area and prevent reignitions” in a mountainous terrain with difficult access.
Extreme conditions hinder the fight against the fire in Córdoba
The weather conditions represent the main challenge for the brigades.
The relative humidity dropped to as low as 19%, well below the danger threshold of 30%.
Meanwhile, the winds reach 100 kilometers per hour and the temperatures exceed 32 degrees.
“We are fighting against nature; relative humidity below 30% is already dangerous, and today it is below 20,” Schreiner emphasized this Monday in statements to Punto y Aparte Radio.
The official detailed that more than 150 brigades are working on the ground with support from helicopters and portable pumps specifically designed for mountain terrain.
“The planes are constantly cooling the area, while the firefighters arrive with backpacks and special pumps to the hot spots,” the secretary indicated.
The origin of the fire in Córdoba: an accidented car
The fire in Quebrada del Condorito originated from accidental causes.
According to Schreiner, a Ford EcoSport caught fire and its occupants moved it to the shoulder.
The spilled fuel (between 30 and 40 liters) caught fire and quickly ignited the area’s grasslands.
“With 120 km/h winds and 32 degrees, it spread very quickly,” the official recounted.
The immediate response was key: pilots and firefighters were already on preventive watch.
“We don’t have to wait for them, the planes are already on the runway and the teams are ready,” he emphasized.
The coordinated operation between jurisdictions
The fight against the fire involved coordination between provinces, the Nation, and National Parks.
“When there’s a fire, we break jurisdictions. It doesn’t matter if the limit is provincial or federal: we go and help,” Schreiner stated.
The operation reached its peak on Saturday when 600 firefighters worked simultaneously on three different fires in the province.
The logistics included the provision of fuel, food, and specialized equipment for all fronts.
Until September 25, Córdoba recorded 4,035 hectares burned in 715 fires, a figure that represents only 7% of the affected hectares in 2024.
“This year there were more focuses, but less surface: action was taken quickly and there were regular rains until September,” the secretary explained.
The environmental impact of the fire in a protected area
Due to the fire, the Quebrada del Condorito National Park will remain closed for several days.
The protected area covers 37,344 hectares and is a key site for the sighting of condors, whose most eastern distribution is found in this region.
It is also home to pumas, foxes, vultures, amphibians, and reptiles, in addition to a guanaco reintroduction project.
“The damage to the fauna and habitats is significant,” stated the official spokesperson.
The Risk Management Secretariat maintains the alert for extreme risk and the prohibition of lighting fires in rural and forest areas throughout the province of Córdoba.
