Shortly after the fire declared extinct in the Lanín National Park, a new Forest fire It was recorded in Neuquén. Since Thursday afternoon, firefighters from the town of Senillose They work to combat the flames that began in a grassland area. Despite its efforts, the focus intensified at night due to strong wind bursts.
The igneous point mobilized allied cities such as Plottier, Añelo, Centenario, Plaza Huincul and Picún Leufú. In total, 25 troops fight against the progress of fire and have two pumps and two systems specialized in forest combat, as indicated from the portal LM Neuquén.
The incident unleashed behind a police post in Senillosa and caused a dense column of smoke that displayed on the National Route 22affecting visibility. The area had registered a fire principle the previous day.
From the Plottier Volunteer Fire Barracksconfirmed after the 21st hours that work “in a fire of uncultured fields with the existence of jarilla and native vegetation.” “For now, There are no injuries or damage to structures. There are several endowments in the place displaced throughout the perimeter of the fire, ”they said, as could know the best informed local medium. In addition, they indicated that the tasks began at 6 in the afternoon.
The combat body indicated that the risk is maintained because the bursts raise the flames several meters, which could compromise populated sectors if it is not possible to contain the fire in time. Local authorities remain alert and do not rule out preventive evacuations if the situation is aggravated.
In turn, they explained to the site Radio and Television of Neuquén that “the situation changed dramatically with the change of wind direction, which forced all teams to retreat temporarily as a precaution.”
Previously, a fire principle had been recorded in dimensions to the Neuquina town, located 30 kilometers from the capital. The flames expanded by almost a kilometer in an area known by the locals as Ragin-Ko.
The igneous focus was reported around 22 on Wednesday and motivated the intervention of six firefighters. The work on the field was in charge of the General Commander Marcelo Gómez, who coordinated the combat actions with the personnel of the Senillosa and Plottier barracks.
From the local barracks they informed the Río Negro Diario That, at the time of deployment, they were organizing to advance on the head of the fire, given the topography of the area and the intensity of the fire. Finally, it was confirmed that the flames were completely controlled, although the affected total area has not yet been specified.
It is a site that sometimes had been the scene of other fires, which led the authorities to stay on permanent alert in that sector.
More than three months after the start of the forest fire that affected extensive areas of the Lanín National Parkthe authorities officially confirmed their extinction.
The announcement was made at the end of April, by the Unified Command next to the Government of the Province of Neuquénwho highlighted the magnitude of the displayed operation and the key role of climatic conditions in the final phase of the fire fight. The incident, which began at the end of January, left a balance of 22,100 hectares affectedof which 19,380 were completely razed by the flames, according to updated data with tools of the Geographic Information System (GIS).
One of the most affected areas was Valle Magdalena, where the fire advanced quickly. To face The emergency mobilized more than 1000 people, including 282 specialized brigades, and 17 air media were used: 12 helicopters, 3 hydrant airplanes, a booeing and an airbus helicopter.
In parallel, air patrols and land carried out in recent weeks included drones with thermal cameras and recognition flights, which did not detect hot points or columns of smoke in critical areas, validating the extinction of the igneous focus.
The National Parks Administration thanked the work of those who were part of the operation, highlighting their “Commitment, vocation for service and effort”in what is considered one of the most relevant deployments in the recent history of forest fire combat in the region.
