"Nearly 75% of wildfires in Ñuble are due to negligence"

November 20, 2024 0 Comments Last News Sin tags

GORE calls coordination meeting to address wildfire season.

Nearly 75% of wildfires in the Ñuble region are caused by negligence. This, along with rapid response, was one of the key points discussed in the meeting convened by Governor Óscar Crisóstomo, where regional ministerial secretaries and public services presented prevention activities and reviewed tasks to coordinate preparedness for the upcoming season.

The working session was attended by regional directors of Conaf and Senapred, the Presidential Delegate of Punilla Province, and representatives from the Regional Presidential Delegation and Itata Province. Among the ministerial secretaries present were those from Agriculture, Health, Environment, Energy, Labor, and Public Works (MOP). Also attending were the regional coordinator of the Firefighters' Academy and representatives from Subtel, among others.

Regarding urgent tasks, Governor Crisóstomo emphasized finalizing and sharing "communal emergency plans, especially considering the change in municipal authorities in most communes. These have already been drafted and delivered in 19 of the 21 communes, and the remaining two are expected to have the information ready within this month."

The regional authority added, "We have tasked coordination efforts with private companies in areas such as cleaning telecommunication antennas, registering emergency vehicles to waive toll payments, compiling contact lists of school administrators who can serve as shelters or command posts, and monitoring agricultural burning or harvesting during high combustion risk periods."

Another critical point, Crisóstomo noted, "is the percentage of wildfires caused by negligence in Ñuble—which differs from intentional acts. Negligence accounts for nearly 75% of our fires. That’s why we must work together, spreading awareness on permitted and prohibited actions, fire-spread risks, temperature alerts, and high-risk activities. The call is for everyone’s collaboration—to educate, inform, and protect Ñuble."

Communal emergency plans

Juan Salvador Ramírez, Regional Director of Conaf, stressed that "it’s not just about allocating resources for prevention, mitigation, and firefighting, but also ensuring coordination during peacetime to plan where, how, and why to act. Governor Crisóstomo has been clear: what matters is protecting every resident of Ñuble, and public-private coordination is vital for this."

Ramírez added, "We’ve delivered 19 of the 21 plans in Ñuble and are finalizing the last two communes within two weeks to reach 100%. We’ve already identified high-risk and vulnerable areas, advising municipalities on prevention and mitigation measures and their timing."

Gilda Grandón, Regional Director of Senapred, highlighted the Regional Government’s commitment to "disaster risk management, particularly given the current season’s wildfire mitigation and preparedness measures. We feel supported and will address concerns raised by the Governor’s team, but we also recognize the extensive coordinated work already done—though we won’t relax our efforts."

Aaron Flores, Regional Coordinator of the National Firefighters' Academy, underscored the importance of "coordinating wildfire response among all involved entities to avoid overlaps, ensure efficiency, and prioritize community safety—controlling emergencies swiftly and, above all, preventing loss of life."

Source:La Discusión