President of National Firefighters Board on Ñuble and Biobío Fires: "It's the Worst I've Seen in 40 Years"

Juan Carlos Field warned that the speed and level of destruction of the fire in Biobío and Ñuble surpass previous tragedies and alerted about attacks on volunteers and possible intentional acts.

The president of the National Firefighters Board of Chile, Juan Carlos Field, described the forest fires affecting the south-central part of the country as "the worst I've seen in 40 years," referring to the speed with which the flames advanced and the level of destruction recorded in urban areas like Penco and Lirquén.

In an interview with Primera Pauta, Field compared the scenario to Santa Olga in 2017 but highlighted a key difference: "Here it was very fast." As he explained, within a few hours the fire swept through entire sectors, leaving no room for reaction for neighbors or emergency teams.

The president of the National Firefighters Board recounted that he was on the ground in zero zones and observed how urban roads functioned as improvised firebreaks, which prevented even greater damage. Still, he maintained that the level of intensity and disaster surpasses what has been experienced in decades of voluntary service.

Attacks on firefighters during the emergency

Field also addressed the alleged attacks on firefighters recorded in Angol and Concepción, events he described as unprecedented and deeply concerning. "It throws us off and bewilders us," he stated, and highlighted the role of Carabineros and the PDI in protecting the teams.

In the case of Angol, he detailed that stones were thrown at a fire engine and gunshots were heard, while in Concepción there were nearby detonations. Although he avoided stating that the attacks were directly against firefighters, he explained that any action of that kind forces the withdrawal of personnel for safety reasons.

The result, he warned, is that the affected communities are directly harmed. "We are providing a service, but if there is risk, we have to withdraw," he noted, and called for reporting this type of behavior.

Intentionality and preparedness for fires

When asked about possible intentionality in the fires, Field was cautious. He indicated that the Firefighters have personnel specialized in forest fire investigation, even trained in Spain, but clarified that they have not yet been formally required.

"We cannot say if it was intentional or not. That must be determined by the Prosecutor's Office and the police," he affirmed, emphasizing the importance of clarifying the origin and cause to prevent future tragedies.

While he defended the State's prior coordination and joint work with CONAF and Senapred, he emphasized that community preparedness remains key. He highlighted the "prepared communities" programs but warned that there is still a lack of awareness about timely evacuation and firebreaks. "Life cannot be recovered; material things can," he concluded.

Source:Radio Pauta