Following the arrest of a volunteer from the Thirteenth Placilla Fire Company, accused of generating the fatal fires last February in the Valparaíso region, it is that The Valparaíso Fire Department issued a statement regarding the matter.
In it, they assure that the known facts They do not represent the values and purposes of the institution. According to the investigations carried out by the PDI, it was established that the volunteer had used a cigarette to start the fire.
The superintendent of Valparaíso Firefighters, Juan Paredes, assured live for TVN that “we are destroyed. “We are the oldest fire department, and we are devastated.”
It should be noted that a Conaf official, allegedly involved in the fires, was also recently arrested.
You can read the full statement below:
In light of recently known facts related to the
fire on February 2, we point out the following:1.-As the Valparaíso Fire Department, we are absolutely dismayed by the events that are already public knowledge and we deeply regret them.
2.- We trust in the investigation carried out by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and it is in our greatest interest that the facts are completely clarified, for which we are at the disposal of the Prosecutor’s Office and the requirements it may have.
3.- The immediate separation of functions of the volunteer involved and the beginning of an internal investigation by the commander of the Fire Department, Vicente Maggiolo Oyarzún, have been ordered.
4.- This tragic and unfortunate fire left injured firefighters and losses of material from different Fire Departments, for which as an institution we will become part of the respective judicial process as plaintiffs.
5.- The known facts do not represent the values and purposes of the Valparaíso Fire Department, whose volunteers – for almost 173 years – have incessantly fought various emergencies, risking their lives to protect the community, with which we maintain an unrestricted commitment that we will preserve. invariably
Communiqué from the National Board of Fire Brigades
The National Board of Firefighters also spoke out on the matter. They assured that they condemn any action that may have caused the tragedy of the fire, which resulted in 137 fatalities and 16 thousand victims.
Furthermore, they commit to fully cooperate with the investigation of the Public Ministry and the PDI and reaffirm their commitment to respond professionally to the community, strongly condemning and sanctioning any improper actions or behavior within their ranks, especially those of a criminal nature.
You can read the full statement below:
The National Board of Fire Brigades of Chile has learned of the arrest of a Firefighter from the 13th Company of the Valparaíso Fire Brigade, in the midst of the investigation
carried out by the Public Ministry and the PDI for the mega forest fire that affected the communes of Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Quilpué and Villa Alemana last February.As an Institution, we repudiate any action that could be the cause of this tragedy that left 137 fatalities and 16 thousand injured. If it is definitively established that a firefighter from Chile was involved, it will be a fact that we will deeply regret and will unite us even more in the pain of the families.
Firefighters of Chile commits from now on its total willingness to cooperate with the investigation carried out by the Public Ministry and the PDI regarding these unfortunate events; as was demonstrated from the beginning until the emergency was controlled, saving lives and property and then collaborating with technical investigations about its origin and cause.
It is necessary to point out that this unfortunate fire left injured firefighters and loss of material from different Fire Departments, which is why as an Institution we will become part of the respective judicial process as plaintiffs.
The Firefighters of Chile reaffirm our commitment to continue responding professionally to the community and condemn improper actions or behavior – and even more so criminal – within our ranks, committing a strong rejection and sanction against those who, through their actions, have deviated from the only purpose of public service that guides us.
