Ecuador: 1,174 Hectares of Forest Destroyed by Fire in the Southern Andes

Wildfire in Quilanga canton, in the province of Loja, Ecuador, Aug. 29, 2024. Photo: X/ @AdrinTa

August 29, 2024 Hour: 8:57 am

The situation remains critical and hundreds of families are being evacuated as a precaution.

On Wednesday, the National Secretariat for Risk Management (SNGR) confirmed that 1,174 hectares of grasslands and forests have been destroyed by a wildfire in the municipality of Quilanga, in the province of Loja.

The wildfire, which was reported by residents on August 23, caused minor injuries to two firefighters during efforts to extinguish the flames. One of the injured firefighters was transferred to the city of Loja and is in stable condition, while the other has already been discharged.

The fire was located in the parish of San Antonio de las Aradas, in Quilanga, where military personnel and firefighters are working together to control the blaze.

The Ecuadorian government has activated the Forest Fire Reinforcement Brigades (BRIF) from the neighboring provinces of Cañar and El Oro to assist in the area. It also ordered the preparation of a helicopter equipped with fire-fighting devices to support the fire-fighting efforts.

🔴🔥🆘 Un incendio arrollador deja en una escena crítica a #Quilanga, consumiendo 1.174 hectáreas por las llamas, pobladores piden ayuda, familias son evacuadas familias por el riesgo latente. Autoridades acuden al llamado pero la naturaleza no perdona, la situación es crítica. pic.twitter.com/zoj7TdizHI
— Lo del Momento Loja LDM (@lodelmomentoloj) August 29, 2024

The text reads, “A devastating fire has left Quilanga in a critical situation, consuming 1,174 hectares in flames. Residents are asking for help and families are evacuated due to the latent risk. Authorities respond to the call but nature does not forgive. The situation is critical.”

The BRIF are specialized brigades, accredited by international organizations for the control and extinguishment of wildfires. Under the coordination of the Quilanga Emergency Operations Committee, firefighting teams from neighboring municipalities have contributed to combating this emergency.

Additionally, a Unified Command Post has been activated in the town of San Antonio de las Aradas to deploy actions that are also supported by local community members.

Forest fires in Ecuador typically occur during the dry season, when there is a noticeable rainfall deficit in the southern Andean region of the country. In the past, wildfires have consumed large areas of forest.