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Conaf Aims to Form Up to 8 Brigades to Tackle Forest Fires in Chiloé

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• The provincial committee was activated to prevent these emergencies, an initiative aimed at strengthening coordinated efforts among institutions.

To enhance collaborative work in the province, the Forest Fire Prevention and Mitigation Committee was activated. The session included representatives from a dozen public and private institutions, who are already coordinating their actions for the upcoming fire season.

The meeting took place at the Presidential Delegation of Chiloé, where the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) presented a review of the previous fire season and outlined the scope of the current one, which began on July 1 and will run until June 30, 2025.

Claudia Guineo, the head of the organization in the province, provided details, stating that during the last season, 152 forest fires occurred, affecting 112 hectares of vegetation, mainly shrubs, thorny bushes, and agricultural waste. "This area accounted for 3.5% of the region's total," she clarified.

The professional also urged the community to "take care, avoid unauthorized burns, and implement preventive measures." Additionally, it was noted that the use of fire will be suspended starting December 1, after which any burning will be illegal and should be reported via the hotline 130.

Another topic addressed was the recruitment of firefighters. It was emphasized that the application period to join the forest fire prevention and protection team is open. Interested parties can visit Conaf.cl, select their region to check requirements, and fill out the forms.

PROCESS
Guineo highlighted this process, stressing that planning will also depend on the number of firefighters joining the institution.

"We plan to recruit between 70 and 80 firefighters, allowing us to form 7 or 8 brigades. The goal is to have one more unit than last year, including a night brigade and aerial resources," she explained, adding that the helicopter is scheduled to be operational by early December.

Alongside forming this contingent, other activities are being organized, particularly educational ones, as part of precautionary measures and community outreach, targeting neighborhood associations, schools, and public and private institutions.

"We hope and believe that the Chiloé community will become increasingly aware of protecting our heritage," stated the provincial director of Conaf, emphasizing a campaign reinforced with talks and preventive training.
The meeting also introduced the new head of the forest fire prevention and protection program, José Marín, who was already part of Conaf's provincial team.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Delegate of Chiloé, Marcelo Malagueño, praised these early coordination efforts to refine each institution's work.

"We’ve already begun analyzing the peak forest fire season, a point highlighted by all attendees of this working committee," he said, adding, "The focus is on reducing the impact of fires, for which we must be prepared."

The Executive representative also noted that the meeting "approved the provincial emergency plan, and now we must ensure its implementation across municipalities so they update their strategies, forming an integrated and joint plan to address any alerts."

Source: subscription edition ofLa Estrella de Chiloé