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Community Prevention Network Conducts Informative Door-to-Door Campaign to Prevent Forest Fires

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The activity took place on Tuesday in the Lomas Coloradas sector of San Pedro de la Paz, Biobío Region, and on Wednesday in Villa Mininco, Collipulli, in the Araucanía Region.

With the aim of preventing forest fires during the summer season, as well as providing advice on environmental care, various public and private organizations that make up the Community Prevention Network conducted a door-to-door campaign this Tuesday and Wednesday to inform citizens about forest fires, how to avoid them, and what actions to take if they spot fire outbreaks near their homes.

These operations involved the participation of Firefighters, Carabineros (Chilean police), CONAF (National Forestry Corporation), CMPC, municipalities, and the Community Prevention Network. The activity was carried out in Villa Mininco, Araucanía Region, and in the Lomas Coloradas sector, located in San Pedro de la Paz, Biobío Region. The latter area has already recorded nine fires to date, with signs of intentionality, making any information residents in hillside and forest-adjacent areas can receive to prevent such events crucial to avoiding disasters like those seen in 2023.

In this regard, the Regional Director of CONAF Biobío, Rodrigo Jara, stated, "We are entering summer, and there is still a long season ahead. Therefore, creating these opportunities is important to spread the prevention message. Here, there are various stakeholders involved, both those who combat fires and those who work to prevent them, so we appreciate the efforts of these institutions."

Meanwhile, Beatriz Cárdenas, Head of Community Relations and Heritage for the Concepción Area at CMPC, also emphasized the importance of this task: "This preventive door-to-door campaign, carried out alongside the Prevention Networks, Neighborhood Councils, CONAF, Firefighters, Carabineros, and municipalities, primarily aims to raise awareness about prevention, especially during these days of alert. Preventing forest fires is essential, particularly considering the unfortunate fire outbreaks we have experienced before, which may have been intentional."

Residents are the ones who most appreciate these initiatives, as many live near forests and hills. One such resident is Nicanor Rebolledo from the Lomas Coloradas sector in San Pedro de la Paz: "I think it's excellent because it's a way to prevent forest fires, which are harmful, but also to protect people living near forested areas who are severely affected. They lose homes, loved ones, and this is a way to prevent that."

Community Prevention Network

In the context of the 2017 fires, the Community Prevention Network emerged—an initiative spanning from the O’Higgins to Los Ríos Regions—that seeks to develop urban-rural community committees capable of preventing forest disasters through a pioneering model in Chile that brings together municipalities, companies, public entities, social organizations, and local residents.

The initiative is promoted by the Chilean Wood Corporation (CORMA) and its partner organizations. In this context, CMPC has actively supported 100 neighborhood committees by providing various resources and knowledge, under the premise that the community is the first line of defense against disasters and that their initial actions will make the difference in the event of forest fires.