The province of Córdoba closed the year 2024 with an extremely critical environmental situation due to the forest and rural fires.
In total, 586 fires were registered, affecting a record surface of 103,327 hectares, according to the annual report of Areas Affected by Forest Fires, prepared by the Technical Table of Burned Areas under the coordination of the Risk Management Directorate of the province.
This figure not only represents a historical record since satellite monitoring began in 2022, but also shows an alarming increase of 150% compared to 2023, when the affected area had been 41,256 hectares. Compared to previous years, the data from 2024 far exceed the figures from 2019, 2018, and 2017, another critical period in the region.
September: the most severe month for forest fires
The report reveals that the most intense period of fires was concentrated between July and October, reaching its peak in September, a month that accounted for 76% of the total burned area during the year. In that month, 177 fires were recorded, which devastated 78,298 hectares, including rural areas and urban interface zones near towns like Capilla del Monte, Dolores, San Esteban, and Los Cocos.
The largest fire of the year, affecting more than 42,000 hectares, occurred during this period and spread across four different departments: Punilla, Colón, Ischilín, and Totoral. This event stood out not only for its magnitude but also for the difficulty of control due to the complexity of the terrain in these regions.
Comparison with the year 2023
The jump between 2023 and 2024 is remarkable. During the critical period from July to September, in 2023 15,945 hectares had burned, while in 2024 that figure increased to 93,475 hectares, almost six times more.
Furthermore, the fires in the last quarter of 2023 mainly affected agricultural areas (87 fires) and mountainous regions (55 fires). Although in smaller numbers, the mountain fires had a greater impact in terms of affected area, reaching 17,225 hectares, compared to 2,076 hectares in agricultural areas.
Most affected departments
The largest fires in 2024 were concentrated in the departments of:
- Punilla: 21,188 hectares burned.
- Calamuchita: 19,719 hectares.
- Totoral: 10,689 hectares. Other severely affected departments include Pocho, Río Cuarto, Colón, Ischilín, and Santa María, each with more than 6,000 damaged hectares. These numbers underscore the severity of the fires throughout the province.
Monitoring methodology
The report is based on data obtained through satellite monitoring, a technique implemented since 2022 to build an official map of burned areas, accessible to the public.
This system aims to visualize the environmental impact of fires and provide key information for the development of public policies and prevention plans.
Reflection and need for action
The environmental crisis facing Córdoba highlights the urgency of developing effective strategies for fire prevention and control.
The increase in fires and the severity of the damage demonstrate the territory’s vulnerability to the effects of drought, combined with frosts that dry out pastures and the lack of rainfall. These factors contribute to the easy spread of fires, making their control difficult.
Systematic monitoring and mapping of affected areas are valuable tools, but there is still much to be done to prevent years like 2024 from becoming the norm. It is essential to strengthen coordination between institutions, implement more robust preventive measures, and raise awareness among the population about the importance of caring for the natural environment in Córdoba.
Cover photo: La Voz
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