Fires in the Patagonia do not give respite. The firefighters continue working tirelessly in the affected provinces, but the devastated areas raise the figures.
In the Parque Nacional Lanín, in the Valle Magdalena, the flames affected more than 22,131 hectares, approximately, according to the latest report.
Patagonia Fires: Active Focus in Lanín
The Unified Command between the Parque Nacional Lanín and the Neuquén Government operating in Estancia Mamuil Malal reported on Saturday in a statement that the “Valle Magdalena” fire remains active.
There were 255 firefighters from the Provincial Fire Management System, the National Fire Management System, and Volunteer Firefighters from Córdoba and La Pampa working there.
Authorities also highlighted the complications brought by “accumulated fatigue, high temperatures, and the complexity of the terrain” for the firefighters.
In that line, they also detailed the tasks. “They will carry out attacks with water lines and hand tools, reinforcing the lines made in recent days and working on hot spots,” they specified for the weekend.
“12 air units and drone flights to monitor the area are added,” they indicated. “They demand constant attention to risks and careful management of human and material resources, which are planned day by day,” they added.
On the other hand, on Sunday, they detailed that in Sector 4, at the tail in Valle la Yeguada, work will continue with hand tools and then with water lines.
Meanwhile, sectors 1, 2, and 3 left flank (Aluminé) towards the tail are working with water lines. Sectors 6, 7, and 8, in Aucapan, will have cooling with water equipment and hand tools.
Forest Fires Crisis: What’s Happening in Argentina
In Argentina, the fire season varies depending on the geographical region, generally increasing during the summer when extreme conditions often lead to large-scale and intense fires.
Thus, the effects of global warming and climate change make extreme events of high temperatures, low relative humidity, and strong winds more frequent, creating a high-risk situation that can result in large-scale and difficult-to-control fires.
In some localities of the Patagonian region, the replacement of native forest with exotic species, such as various varieties of pines, was part of a forest policy promoted since the 1960s to encourage development.
However, in many cases, these plantations did not receive adequate management, with a lack of pruning, thinning, and timely harvesting.
Also, their expansion capacity was not controlled, generating impacts on the landscape and an increase in the availability of combustible material. This contributes to the spread of forest fires, increasing the risk in the region.
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