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Burn restriction lifted in Ñuble: PDA allows it only until April 15

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Last Monday, the restriction on agricultural burns was officially lifted in most communes of the Ñuble Region, after being prohibited by the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) due to weather conditions that prevented these burns from being carried out in a controlled manner, thereby increasing the risk of wildfires.

Farmers or individuals who wish to burn their agricultural waste must go to the Conaf Ñuble office to request their burn notice certificate. For now, only agricultural waste burning is permitted.

The lifting of this measure applies to the communes of Yungay, Pemuco, El Carmen, San Ignacio, Pinto, Coihueco, San Carlos, Ñiquén, San Nicolás, Bulnes, and Quillón, including Chillán and Chillán Viejo, communes under the current Atmospheric Decontamination Plan (PDA), which began its Critical Episode Management (GEC) on April 1.

In this regard, Conaf Ñuble indicated that the current plan allows authorized agricultural burns in the inter-commune area until April 15, meaning they can be carried out until next Tuesday.

After that date and by mandate of the PPDA, burns will be completely prohibited to avoid increased air pollution during this season.

"Chillán and Chillán Viejo are authorized until April 15, according to the PPDA. This means the current plan allows burns only up to that date," stated Juan Salvador Ramírez, regional director of Conaf Ñuble.

In fact, the plan specifies this in its Article 34, making it clear that burns are prohibited in the inter-commune area starting April 15.

"Three years after the publication of this Plan in the Official Gazette, the same prohibition on the use of fire between April 15 and September 30 will apply," details the plan.

The document also states that the "restriction will apply throughout the saturated zone. Enforcement of this measure will fall under the Agricultural and Livestock Service and the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf), within their respective jurisdictions. The corresponding penalties will be subject to sectoral regulations."

The use of fire is regulated by Supreme Decree 276 of 1980 from the Ministry of Agriculture, which establishes that the use of fire to eliminate plant waste on agricultural and forest lands may only be done through controlled burns.

Smoke in Chillán and surrounding communes

This Tuesday, much of the inter-commune area and nearby localities were covered by smoke from these burns.

Although air quality for this Wednesday will remain good, according to the Ministry of Environment's website, the situation did not go unnoticed by many, who inquired on social media about any active fires.

The truth is that smoke will be a common sight, at least until next April 15, when burns are once again prohibited in the inter-commune area of Chillán and Chillán Viejo.

Source:La Discusión