Chile: there are more than 300 outbreaks of forest fires

The Government of Chile reported today that there are 301 active forest fires in Chile, of which 169 are controlled and 81 are in combat. The wave of fierce fires has already left a balance of 26 dead and 3,569 affected, and 1,159 homes destroyed between the regions of Maule and La Araucanía, according to the latest balance of the trans-Andean country. For the fires there are currently 15 detainees for alleged responsibility in the forest fires.” We have 301 forest fires currently active in Chile: there are 169 controlled and we keep 81 in combat. We maintain with red alerts the regions of Ñuble, Biobío and La Araucanía and the warning of high temperatures from Coquimbo to La Araucanía is maintained, “said Manuel Monsalve, undersecretary of the Interior, during a press conference. Currently, 151 SAE (Emergency Alert System for cell phones) alert messages have been sent for people to evacuate populated areas.  For the fires, today there are 15 detainees for alleged responsibility in the forest fires, of which four are under detention control and 11 warned (pending a summons from the Prosecutor’s Office). Regarding the detainees, the undersecretary of the Interior said that the “Government will pursue anyone who is responsible for the intentional generation of fires,” adding that “anyone who has a history of the possible intentionality of a fire please make the complaint, because so far there are no complaints filed.” On the curfew, the Chilean authority clarified that “there is no bias in using all the tools provided by the rule of law,” but the institutions that the Government itself has appointed in the areas “have not considered it necessary to declare the curfew.” In the Biobío region, in the Ñuble region and in the Araucanía region, we have appointed a head of National Defense, and therefore it is the head of National Defense in conjunction with the Military Forces who have to evaluate and make decisions regarding the protection and public order of the regions. Monsalve said. Regarding the measures that the Government has taken to face the forest fires, Monsalve reported that “in these days we have had meetings with authorities of the Government of former President Piñera, with authorities of former President Bachelet, there have been conversations with the private world, efforts for international aid and meetings with all political parties.” At this time, the collaboration of all political sectors, the country, international collaboration, and also the collaboration of those who have faced situations of this nature at another time and that any advice may be relevant, “closed the national authority. It should be remembered that during the morning the Minister of Government, Camila Vallejo, met with the political parties of the ruling party and the opposition to coordinate aid measures for the victims of the forest fires that affect the center-south of Chile.According to the latest balance, there are 26 deaths and 3,569 victims, and there are 1,159 homes destroyed by forest fires between the regions of Maule and La Araucanía, In addition to three health facilities that ended up burned by the flames. Regarding the contingent that works against the fires, the authorities reported that there are 895 firefighters and 2,357 brigade members of the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) in the affected areas, in addition to 10 Carabineros water launchers and 66 public aircraft, while waiting for the arrival of 60 planes and helicopters that private companies made available to the authorities. This is the operation, in addition to the international aid that continues to arrive in the country to fight the fires. Today, 33 brigade members from Colombia arrived in Chile and another 150 Mexican brigade members will disembark in the trans-Andean country tomorrow. This morning, France reported sending 80 firefighters and first responders “in the coming hours,” French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced.

Original source in Spanish