Ecuador: Another Forest Fire Sets off Alarm Bells

Fire and Emergency Team of Cuenca, July 29, 2024 Photo: @Riesgos_Ec

July 29, 2024 Hour: 6:30 pm

Last week, another forest fire in Azuay devastated 850 hectares of forest, according to the National Secretariat for Risk Management.

On Monday, a new forest fire has set off alarm bells in the Ecuadorian city of Cuenca, in the province of Azuay, where firefighting teams have been trying to put out the flames for more than 10 hours.

The city’s fire brigade said on its social network X that drones are flying over the affected area to determine possible access routes for firefighters. At the moment, the emergency is being fought from below, the statement said.

Last week, another forest fire in Azuay devastated 850 hectares of forest, according to the National Secretariat for Risk Management.

A hundred firefighters, 20 vehicles, five drones and a helicopter were needed to extinguish the flames.

#Atención 🔥
(16h30) Los fuertes vientos dificultan las labores para controlar el incendio forestal en el sector de #Pucán, #SanJoaquín.
Al momento se ha reactivado el fuego en dos flancos; se calcula que el área afectada es de aproximadamente 90 hectáreas. pic.twitter.com/NEVGI3oebN
— Bomberos Cuenca (@Bomberos_Cuenca) July 29, 2024

(4:30 p.m.) Strong winds make efforts to control the forest fire in the sector of Pucán , San Joaquín difficult.
At the moment the fire has been reactivated on two flanks; It is estimated that the affected area is approximately 90 hectares.

Gusts of wind, rising temperatures in the Sierra and high ultraviolet radiation contributed to the spread of the fire.

This year, 631 forest fires have been recorded in 16 provinces of this South American nation and these events have caused the loss of more than 5,200 hectares of vegetation.

The provinces with the greatest losses in vegetation cover are Pichincha, Carchi, Azuay, Guayas, Chimborazo, El Oro, Tungurahua and Imbabura.

The most recent catastrophe occurs in the middle of summer, when heat indexes increase considerably.

Specialists explain that at this time of year, Andean and coastal localities are exposed to a greater threat due to high temperatures, low humidity, low cloud cover, as well as increased wind speed and ultraviolet radiation.

In addition to environmental factors, human activity is also conducive to fires, which is why the Quito municipal government and the city’s fire brigade have been promoting the campaign “Together against fire” since last week.