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Los Angeles Prepares to Face a New Wildfire Season

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Assessments will be conducted in rural areas, and property owners will be notified to reduce trash, grasslands, and combustible materials. "It is essential that the community begins cleaning around their homes to face the high temperatures," emphasized the local emergency management officer.

On the verge of the wildfire season due to rising temperatures, various preventive actions are being carried out in Los Angeles, such as creating firebreaks and reducing combustible materials from the western to the eastern sectors, covering areas like Villa Génesis, Ciudades de Chile, Galilea, and Paillihue.

This was reported by María Jesús Sandoval Poblete, the local emergency management officer of Los Angeles, in the context of the wildfire prevention season, which severely affects the Biobío province and its surroundings during the summer.

This effort is part of a coordinated work between the Municipality of Los Angeles and a public-private prevention committee established in 2023, involving the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) and the companies CMPC and Arauco.

This initiative was created based on last summer's experience when the combination of high temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity created ideal conditions for the worst wildfires in decades in the south-central zone, with over 200,000 hectares destroyed and nearly two dozen fatalities.

PREVENTIVE ACTIONS

The local officer explained that cleanup efforts will be carried out with the support of crews and brigades, and waste collection is planned in 17 rural schools in the district, as well as in health posts and community centers once the tasks are completed.

"The actions we must take as a municipality to prevent wildfires focus on three areas: education, prevention, and response, coordinated with communities where wildfires are most frequent in rural sectors," Sandoval explained.

During the 2023-2024 summer, Conaf recorded and controlled around 85 wildfires affecting approximately 1,227 hectares. Sandoval highlighted that they are working alongside 17 municipal committees to keep the situation under control as much as possible.

"We are conducting educational actions, holding meetings with neighborhood associations and committees to raise community awareness about wildfire prevention," she stated.

Along the same lines, Sandoval told *Diario La Tribuna* that waste and combustible material removal operations are underway, coordinated with committees to clear grasslands and reduce flammable elements posing risks in their territories.

RURAL SECTORS

Additionally, risk assessments and notifications are being carried out on private properties in various urban and rural areas. As part of preventive measures, patrols and road operations will be implemented to monitor potential fire outbreaks.

Sandoval emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts, including the "Prepared Schools" initiative, where CONAF teams conduct assessments in rural schools located in critical areas.

"We support this initiative by cleaning the surroundings of the schools. Our municipality will handle the removal of accumulated combustible materials in these areas," she explained.

Critical points in rural health posts are also being evaluated for cleanup tasks. Through the Risk Management Unit, the municipality notifies landowners about the need to clear grasslands and reduce combustible materials on their properties.

HIGH TEMPERATURES

"As a municipality, we are taking multiple actions to face the new wildfire season with greater preparation and coordination. It is crucial that the community begins cleaning around their homes to be better prepared for the high temperatures expected this summer," Sandoval stated.

Authorities urged the community to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season, encouraging residents to clear combustible materials around their homes and plots, especially considering that experts predict the La Niña phenomenon may bring elevated temperatures this season.

Community participation is essential in these efforts, and everyone is expected to collaborate to create a safer environment against wildfire risks.

Source: Digital print edition ofLa Tribuna