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Biobío Requests "Technical Burns" to Prevent Forest Fires
In the Biobío Region, concern over the upcoming forest fire season has led authorities and trade associations to request President Gabriel Boric to authorize controlled burns, known as "technical burns."
This measure aims to prevent natural disasters in an area that has accumulated vegetative fuel for six years, significantly increasing the risk of fires.
The mayor of Penco and spokesperson for the Municipal Forest Fire Prevention Association in Biobío, Rodrigo Vera, called for coordinating resources with Senapred and the public-private alliance to carry out preventive firebreaks. Additionally, the regional governmental delegate, Eduardo Pacheco, was requested to authorize selective preventive burns in critical areas, an action that requires a presidential decree.
Alejandro Sandoval, regional director of Senapred, warned about the adverse climate conditions projected for the summer, with a 30% rainfall deficit and no expected changes in the weather. These conditions, combined with low humidity and the large amount of available fuel, will intensify the risk of forest fires.
From the Chilean Wood Corporation (Corma), its president in Biobío and Ñuble, Alejandro Casagrande, emphasized the need for special permits to prevent fires, given the complex situation in both the northern and southern hemispheres, with millions of hectares burned in different parts of the world.
The Biobío community hopes the President’s intervention will allow the implementation of these preventive measures and thus avoid an environmental catastrophe in the region.
