The president of the El Bolsón fire committee, Juan Carlos Martínez, described the current situation in Río Negro as "heartbreaking" due to the forest fires that have been ongoing for over a week. In an interview on Radio Splendid, Martínez expressed his concern for the difficult circumstances faced by local residents, as well as the fauna and flora of the region, labeling the situation as "disastrous."
"People are going through very hard times, the heartbreaking situation of people having to leave their homes because they see it is inevitable and the fire consumes them in a few minutes is truly tremendous and very difficult," Martínez stated. He highlighted the challenges posed by large-scale fires and how they impact the region.
Martínez also mentioned the efforts that firefighters are making to contain the fire, using aerial means such as helicopters and planes. However, he explained that adverse weather conditions, like strong gusts of wind, hinder extinguishing efforts and increase the danger of the situation.
The origin of the fire was identified by Martínez at the confluence near the Cajón del Azul trail, from where it spread to agricultural areas and inhabited zones. There is a risk that it will spread even further into more densely populated areas, having already affected a vast expanse of land. In particular, it is currently near the Azul River, where there are human settlements, factories, and crops at risk.
