Crisis in Argentina's Firefighting System

As forest fires advance uncontrollably in Patagonia and force the closure of National Route 40 in various sections of Chubut, the complaint from volunteer firefighters over the lack of national funds has once again brought a deep and structural crisis in Argentina's fire response system to the forefront. According to the Buenos Aires Provincial Federation of Volunteer Fire Associations, during 2025 the country's nearly thousand fire stations received only half of the 66 million pesos they are owed annually. While some federation executives are demanding funds for accommodation, on the ground, many brigades lack basic personal protective equipment: suitable footwear, specific clothing, serviceable forest backpacks, and a food logistics system commensurate with the immense physical strain they face. Gabriel Sandoval, head of the Lanús Oeste firefighters and secretary of the entity, explained that around 70% of fire stations depend on these funds to survive and maintain basic operations. Fire management specialists, consulted by Total News Agency and who requested anonymity, warn that the lack of funds is just one of multiple weaknesses in a system that has historical deficits. Helicopters, even when well-operated, often lack adequate ground direction. Every summer, as the fire advances, the country debates the same problems with the same actors, and in many cases, with the same consequences. The fund cut, far from being a solution, deepens a system already weakened by a lack of prevention, inter-jurisdictional coordination, training, and strategic planning. In many cases, they continue to fight fires with minimal resources, sustaining themselves with improvised food and exhausting shifts. Another key point is the confusion of roles. Large aircraft are introduced that do not always adapt to the local topography, while smaller, more flexible aircraft are scarce. Early warning works reasonably well but finds no correlation with concrete actions on the ground. In this context, the focus of the public debate is also questioned. Law 25.054, which regulates the National Volunteer Firefighters System since 1998, establishes that funding comes from five thousandths of automobile and housing insurance premiums, money that the national state collects but, according to firefighters, does not transfer to its recipients in a timely manner.