Santa Cruz reports 7 forest fires and 467 heat hotspots | Santa Cruz reporta 7 incendios forestales y 467 focos de calor

By El Diario:

  • The largest ones are located on the Caparuch plateau in San Ignacio de Velasco and Ñembi Guasu in Gaioc Charagua.
ONE OF THE AREAS AFFECTED BY THE FIRE.

The Early Warning System for Forest Fires (Satif) reported yesterday 467 heat hotspots and seven active fires in the department of Santa Cruz, distributed across the municipalities of San Ignacio de Velasco (2), Carmen Rivero Torrez (1), San Matías (1), San Miguel (1), and San José (1), according to Paulo Viruez, director of Natural Resources of the Governor’s Office.

Regarding San Ignacio, he explained that two fires are located on the Caparuch and Caparuch II plateaus, where Satif is monitoring the area to alert personnel from the National Service of Protected Areas (Sernap) and Ccrea, in order to prepare strategies to fight the fire. In addition, park rangers from Noel Kempff Mercado National Park are also supporting the efforts.

“In the Caparuch plateau, we had already been working on a fire, which has descended from the plateau to the lower part of the tall forest. In this area, water drops have been carried out in coordination with Ccrea and our Direna firefighters,” he detailed, while noting that the second fire near the area was caused by a lightning strike.

In San Matías, the fire broke out in El Encanto, where Direna firefighters, with the help of the Army, volunteer firefighters, and local residents, are working to put out the blaze, while awaiting heavy machinery to strengthen their efforts. In San José de Chiquitos, Direna personnel were deployed to Serrano after the municipality requested assistance due to a reported burning.

As for the Ñembi Guasu fire in Gaioc Charagua, heavy machinery and personnel from various institutions, together with Direna staff, are working to contain the fire by creating firebreaks.

He also mentioned that an aerial survey is planned to determine further actions to improve firefighting effectiveness. Likewise, additional firefighter trainers continue to be deployed to Ñembi Guasu to support control efforts.

Due to the high demand for fuel generated by the scale of the fires, the Santa Cruz Governor’s Office issued a call to the population and authorities to prioritize fuel supply for emergency vehicles so firefighters can continue their work of protecting people and the environment. (Santa Cruz, agencies)

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