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Magallanes Firefighters Work on Establishing a Wildland-Urban Interface Task Force and Many Other Projects

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The idea began, and soon, by 2025, they hope to have it accredited. This is not the work of a single company but rather the Punta Arenas Fire Department, which will have 60 to 70 volunteers for this purpose. All companies contribute.

The Magallanes Fire Department is involved in several projects, but one stands out prominently: the creation of a wildland-urban interface task force.

A task typically handled by CONAF (National Forestry Corporation), but in major emergencies, it is always necessary to rely on the volunteer firefighters.

Even the National Academy published a "Wildfire Control Manual for Firefighters," considered groundbreaking in the institution's history as it is the first time nationwide training for volunteers has been addressed "in matters of wildland-urban interface firefighting and wildfires proper; emergencies in which we are constantly involved without having, until now, a clear national policy regarding our participation in them."

The superintendent of the Punta Arenas Fire Department, Patricio Cárdenas Agoni, stated that locally, they are working to establish a wildland-urban interface task force.

An idea that has already begun and, soon, by 2025, they hope to have it accredited. "This is not the work of a single company but rather the Punta Arenas Fire Department, which will have 60 to 70 volunteers for this. All companies contribute."

For this, they must prepare their personnel, as they must complete and pass the specialization.

"Once approved as a task force, it will be available not only for the Magallanes Region but can also be deployed anywhere in Chile where needed," the officer commented.

Several fire departments in the country already have their task forces accredited. "We are also heading in that direction," said Cárdenas.

One of the projects that has taken the longest to materialize is the construction of the Second Fire Company.

A decade has passed since the fire that destroyed the station of this unit, located on Avenida Colón, between Bories and Magallanes.

Over the years, it was finally decided to move the station out of the city center and relocate it to the southern area.

The construction of "Bomba Chile" will take place on the corner of Avenida Ancud and Manuel Rodríguez streets.

The project was approved last week by the Ministry of Social Development and will now go for the Regional Council's approval. It will be tabled on November 11 for resource approval.

Then, the Architecture Directorate will prepare the bidding terms, and by the beginning of the second half of next year, the new station should be ready, the superintendent responded.

"Bomba Croata"

When asked about other infrastructure projects, he mentioned the ongoing reconstruction of the historic First Company station on Roca Street, "which should be ready for delivery by March or April next year."

They are also working on the construction of the new station for the Fourth Company of Punta Arenas, "Bomba Croata," on Avenida Costanera.

They are moving from O’Higgins Street, and the building will be transferred to the regional government.

It has been approved, but some documents still need to be formalized with the Real Estate Conservator. This stage could soon be completed before moving on to construction.

"The current location has only one engine exit, making it very difficult to dispatch them. So, we opted for a station with three engine exits, much more efficient for responding to emergency calls," he explained. That is why this unit is being relocated to the Costanera.

Source:La Prensa Austral