The largest firefighting plane in Latin America arrived this Wednesday in Chubut to reinforce the fight against the forest fires that have devastated more than 1,800 hectares in the Cordillera.
The Boeing 737 Fireliner operates from Esquel with a capacity for 15,000 liters of water or retardant.
The governor Ignacio Torres received the aircraft in the city of Esquel and confirmed that it began operating immediately.
“The firefighting plane is already working in the Puerto Patriada area,” highlighted the provincial leader.
The incorporation of the plane to Chubut was made possible thanks to an agreement with the province of Santiago del Estero. Torres thanked the elected governor Elías Suárez “for the willingness and joint work.”
The firefighting plane added in Chubut is a unique aircraft in the world
The Boeing 737 Fireliner is an exceptional aircraft: only three units of these characteristics exist worldwide. One operates in Canada, another in Australia, and this is the first time one is working in Argentine territory.
The load capacity of 15,000 liters represents a significant leap in the fight against fire. The firefighting plane joined the fleet already operating in the area:
- Five firefighting planes
- A helicopter with a helibucket
- Teams of brigadiers and volunteer firefighters
- Security forces
The Minister of the Interior, Diego Santilli, participated in the announcement alongside Governor Torres. Both officials agreed on the severity of the situation and the need for large-scale resources.
Critical situation: more than 3,000 evacuated
The fires in Chubut maintain a critical situation in the Andean Region.
For this reason, the authorities ordered the total closure of National Route 40 between El Hoyo and Epuyén due to the advance of the flames.
The National Road Safety Agency made the decision because the fire reached the edges of the road.
Additionally, the dense column of smoke prevents the minimum visibility needed to circulate safely.
Since the fire started, 3,000 people have been evacuated, and authorities estimate that this number could increase along with the number of dead animals.
Due to this situation, the road measure will remain in place until further notice.
Authorities are investigating the hypothesis that the fire was deliberately set. They are seeking to locate the perpetrators of the crime while the fire remains active in various areas.
The comprehensive fire strategy of Chubut
The government of Chubut emphasized that the aerial reinforcement is part of a comprehensive strategy.
The coordination includes the work of brigadiers, volunteer firefighters, security forces, and technical teams.
Torres assured that “the provincial government will not spare any effort in the fight against forest fires.”
The context is complex due to the adverse weather conditions affecting the region.
Authorities reiterated the call for responsibility from the population. They requested collaboration both to prevent new outbreaks and to support the work of those fighting the fire in the territory.
The incorporation of the firefighting plane to Chubut marks a milestone in the fight against forest fires in Argentina. The aircraft represents the largest response capacity available in Latin America.
