Yesterday, Tuesday, light rainfall began which, according to the National Meteorological Service (SMN)will continue until today afternoon. In addition, temperatures dropped and maximum temperatures did not exceed 21°C. And although this is positive news that brings hope, what generates concern and uncertainty are the intense gusts of wind that are expected in the next few hours. They could be up to 60km/h And with abundant cloud cover, how will the fire evolve?
They closed roads conditionally and They restricted access to the areas where the brigades, vehicles, trucks, aerial means and road machinery are working. As is the case of the Camino de Los Alerces, which was closed over the weekend and although it has already reopened, this could be temporary.
The deputy head of the Forest Fire Prevention and Fighting Service (SPLIF) of Bariloche, Nelson Leal, described the situation they are experiencing as “dramatic”. Experts warn that the fire could continue advancing towards Chile and the north of the region. And given the extent and magnitude of the flames and the current weather conditions, there is a possibility that the fires will continue into March.
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The area most affected by the fires in Bariloche
It’s already been three weeks active fire in the Nahuel Huapi National Park. And despite the great efforts of the brigade members in this fight against the clock, the fire no respite. They have already been consumed 4,199 hectares and the weather conditions complicate the work: high temperatures and strong winds help spread the flames to new places.
This Tuesday the rain arrived to help combat it, but the wind behavior. According to the Emergency Committee, rainfall was recorded in the area that helps “the behavior of the fire not be so severe.”
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The situation on the ground is complex. As detailed by the Emergency Committee, the sectors that have been identified as the most active in the fire are Colorado Hill, Quetro Lagoon and The Apple Treeswhere the flames advance with greater intensity.
Fire, wind and flames are not the only opponents of control tasks. Other areas such as Bastion Hill They also present significant activity and the smoke generated by the fire dispersed to the nearby valleys, making it difficult for air resources to operate in the area.
In turn, the flames formed convective columnswhich are composed of smoke and ashes generated by the fire. The latter are incandescent combustible particles that can cause new spotlights of fire.
Combined with the wind, these columns head towards the Route 40 Southone of the main roads in the area. Although the fire did not reach populated areas, nearby communities remain in alert status.
Since Sunday there has been an advance of the fire driven by a “cold front” that hit Los Manzanos, Laguna Quetro-Cerro Colorado, where the largest number of brigade members (71) was sent to set up a defense line.
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On the other hand, in the area of Rock and Hess Lake There are SPLIF personnel providing support to neighbors in prevention tasks due to the advance of the fire and the impact of the smoke. They indicated that in the Lake Steffen No new fire outbreaks were detected and they indicated that prevention tasks are being carried out in El Manso.
According to the SMN, the region is with orange indices by “very high fire risk”so the authorities ask take extreme care to avoid serious consequences.
Local authorities are trying to clarify the reasons by which the fire started. They estimate that it could have originated during a thunderstorm in December, that a ray It fell on one of the trees and since it was an area to which there is no access, the flames intensified quickly.
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Provincial and national efforts to put out the fire
The forest fire in the Nahuel Huapi National Park set off the alarms throughout the country. Weather conditions, such as intense wind, complicate control tasks and make the operations of emergency teams even more difficult. Preventive and operational tasks include constant updating of the affected perimeter and coordination between various official institutions.
There is 97 brigade members fighting on land with air support of the 3 helicopters and 3 planes, and the Boeing 737equipped with tanks to store 15,000 liters of water which began operating this afternoon and could be key. More than 80 citizens They collaborate in logistics, support and transportation tasks.
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He Argentine Army joined the tasks, and the Minister of National Defense, Luis Petriapproached the place to see the state of the situation. From the national military forces, a Bell helicopter with six crew members, three ground vehicles and camps were provided to house those who are working in the affected area.
For her part, the Minister of National Security, Patricia Bullricharrived at the National Parks facilities where the technical team and the authorities of the National Park, the Forest Fire Fighting Directorate and the National Fire Management Service, provided him with information about the status and operational tasks that are being carried out. . Besides, walked through the fire by helicopter to find out the situation.
He National Fire Management Service also participated. It deployed air resources, including two hydrant planes, two helicopters and an observer plane, vital resources to combat the flames in difficult-to-access areas, such as Cerro Colorado, Laguna Quetro and Los Manzanos.
Families and residents lead efforts cleaning and pruning around their homes to prevent nearby combustible material from facilitating the spread of flames.
Source: Ambito
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