Seven fire outbreaks have occurred in the last few hours on Mount Otto and its surroundings in this city, although firefighters managed to contain the flames this afternoon, while the vigil continues.
Tasks were concentrated on both flanks to prevent the spread of the fire, and the Forest Fire Prevention and Fighting Service (SPLIF) confirmed that personnel from Ruca Cura Fire Station was present at the scene but left when it was confirmed that there was no risk to nearby homes.
Additionally, and as learned by the Noticias Argentinas agency, traffic was cut off on Avenida de Los Pioneros to facilitate the passage of firefighters, while water-dropping aircraft joined the efforts.
Meanwhile, suspicions are growing about an intentional origin of the flames, after the first technical teams' inspections in the affected area, which now covers an area of 200 by 500 meters on the north slope of Mount Otto, one of the most prone to fires, as is the San Pedro Peninsula and the Llao Llao hotel area.
All these areas are heavily forested and difficult to access.
From the local municipality, the authorities also asked the population for maximum precaution, respect for signage, and cooperation with the personnel's instructions, and reiterated that these measures are "preventive" and respond to the need to safeguard the community's integrity and optimize the operation.
