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San Pablo de Osorno Community Joins National Initiative to Learn Collaborative Wildfire Prevention

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From now on, they will be part of the Community Prevention Network, which works directly with 5,000 neighbors across 7 regions of the country, from O’Higgins to Los Lagos.

The Cantiamo community, located about 30 kilometers from San Pablo in the Osorno province, joined the Community Prevention Network (RPC) to implement preventive actions that help avoid wildfires. This new prevention committee marks the Network's arrival in the Los Lagos Region, expanding its presence in the country, which now includes seven regions, 492 communities, and around 5,000 neighbors who voluntarily commit to this effort.

The RPC, which began operating in 2017 following the devastating mega-fires that summer, focuses on preventing wildfires in urban-rural interface zones. Its working model promotes collaboration among neighbors, municipalities, companies, public entities, and social organizations to foster long-term environmental care.

Patricia Jiménez, manager of the Community Prevention Network, highlighted the importance of expanding into the Los Lagos Region: "It is essential to be in this region, as both neighbors and companies are interested in working on prevention. This is the first committee in the region, and we are happy to reach here to provide knowledge and tools for prevention and help them connect with their surroundings to avoid fires," she said.

Thanks to the sponsorship of the company Forestal Vista Hermosa, the residents of Cantiamo created a prevention committee, joining the more than 400 already established nationwide. Claudio Caro, Operations Sub-Manager of Vista Hermosa Forest Investments, expressed his support for the initiative: "We think it's an excellent initiative, especially because it emerged from the community itself, giving it legitimacy as a project. We are committed to supporting this committee and contributing to its development, just as we have done in the northern zone, where a significant reduction in wildfires has been achieved."

Many committees currently working with the Network have gone over 5 years without fires. In 2024, more than 70% reported fewer than 3 fires.

Mauricio Rodríguez, a resident of the community and representative of the Rural Drinking Water Committee, explained that the need to create this committee arose due to the increase in wildfires in the area. "This committee is a response to the need for fire prevention in the sector, and it was achieved thanks to joint work with Forestal Vista Hermosa and local communities," he added.

For his part, Jorge Delgado, Saesa's Osorno Zone Manager, emphasized the importance of collaboration among local stakeholders: "We work in the San Pablo municipality, and the creation of this committee is a valuable opportunity to collaborate with neighbors and be proactive not only in electrical matters but also in fire prevention."

Ongoing Work

The Community Prevention Network forms committees in communities to plan, organize, and execute actions that reduce the risk and occurrence of fires. Neighbors actively participate in identifying risks in their surroundings, manage them collectively, and constantly monitor progress.

Among the promoted activities are the creation of risk maps, the implementation of best practices for environmental care, and learning techniques to handle emergencies.

Currently, the Network operates in seven regions, 16 provinces, and 92 municipalities, impacting over 317,000 people nationwide.