Given the manifest intent that causes enormous damage to the delicate ecosystem of the Patagonian forests, as well as to personal property and regional tourism, the corresponding legal actions have been initiated. The National Parks Directorate stated in a press release. Experts from the Argentine Federal Police and national security forces have been summoned, along with new scientific-technological resources to add information to ongoing investigations.
They also emphasized that «control and security measures will be reinforced at the entrances to Los Alerces National Park, rural areas, and local roads, as part of an operation with special units that will patrol towns and monitor the movements of people outside the community».
«Currently, there are two active fires in the National Park. Regarding the La Tapera fire, which started on Sunday and is still active, the Operational Command reported that no structures or homes were affected during the fire's nighttime spread,» the note concludes.
This led to a complaint filed by park representatives in the Esquel court, as it is impossible for three fire sources to start simultaneously without human intervention. Therefore, and as learned by the Noticias Argentinas agency, these fires «show an intentional origin,» as concluded during a meeting convened by the inter-institutional technical body between the National Parks Administration (APN) and the Federal Emergency Agency (AFE) of the Ministry of Security.
Federal Justice has taken charge of the latest fire outbreaks in Los Alerces National Park, located in the west of Chubut province, following a criminal complaint due to the manifest intent in their origin. The start of three new fire sources in recent days in this Andean region raised suspicions from authorities due to their simultaneity in different locations. The origin of these fires occurred just days after authorities confirmed they had brought previous fires under control. The Puerto Café fire, caused by a lightning strike in December, is now contained thanks to the efforts made over the past few months in the area.
