Wildfires in Ecuador’s Capital Force Dozens of Families to Evacuate
Wildfires in Quito, Sept. 24, 2024. X/ @anaraffo1
September 25, 2024 Hour: 8:24 am
The fire started in a rural area and quickly spread across different fronts, reaching the urban core of Quito.
At least two firefighters have been injured, and more than one hundred families have been evacuated from their homes due to the fires that broke out on Tuesday afternoon in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Authorities do not believe they will be able to extinguish the fires before Wednesday.
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In a joint press conference with provincial and national authorities, Quito Mayor Pabel Muñoz explained that the shelter system of the San José Patronage has been activated to assist the evacuated families.
The evacuation was carried out as a precaution since, so far, there have been few impacts on homes and infrastructure. No fatalities have been reported.
The fire started in a rural area and quickly spread across different fronts, reaching the urban core of the Ecuadorian capital and extending to the Metropolitan Park. Around 215 members of the Quito Fire Department are battling the flames, Muñoz said, adding that 440 people have been mobilized in various emergency zones.
The National Police have deployed over 1,600 officers, and the Armed Forces have sent around 180 soldiers, while the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE) has ordered two helicopters to join the fire-fighting efforts, although they will not be operational until Wednesday morning.
Between five and seven helicopters will be involved in water-dumping operations over the flames, Muñoz said, urging citizens to avoid driving their vehicles as much as possible to facilitate the movement of emergency services.
Paola Pabon, prefect of the Pichincha province, whose capital is Quito, assured that the local government’s machinery, as well as health, veterinary, and social assistance brigades and units, will be at the service of the Municipality during this emergency. A series of similar fires in Quito in recent days, apparently set deliberately, led to the arrest of two people who were placed in preventive detention.
On Tuesday, the national government suspended the electricity cuts that had been scheduled in Quito as part of the rationing measures introduced last week, due to the severe drought that has hindered the normal operation of the country’s main hydroelectric plants.
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
