Temuco Fire Department adds three new companies specialized in forest emergencies

The Temuco Fire Department officially announced the incorporation of three new companies into the forest specialty, reaching a total of four units prepared to respond to forest fires and interface emergencies. The measure seeks to strengthen response capacity to incidents that threaten populated areas of the capital of La Araucanía.

The units that incorporated this specialty are the Fourth Company "Bomba España," located on Francisco Salazar Avenue; the Tenth Company, in Labranza; and the Twelfth Company, in Fundo El Carmen. These join the Thirteenth Company, located on Lynch Street, at the foot of Ñielol Hill, a pioneer in this work at the local level.

The commander of the Temuco Fire Department, Claudio Fuentes, explained that the initiative is part of a strategic plan begun in 2024, aimed at anticipating the growth and complexity of forest fires. The process included theoretical and practical training through the Temuco Fire Department School, along with the experience of the Thirteenth Company and the support of the National Forest Corporation (Conaf).

After the agreements were approved by the Command and the General Board, the creation of the three new specialized units was formalized. With this, personnel prepared for these emergencies increased from 40 to more than 150 volunteers.

Between the 23rd and 25th of this month, the four companies plan to undergo an evaluation before the National Operations System (SNO) of the National Fire Department Board of Chile. The goal is to certify a Forest Operational Task Group (GTO) made up of 68 firefighters from different companies.

The certification will make it possible to strengthen the institution's deployment capacity and facilitate its participation in large-scale emergencies, both in the La Araucanía Region and in other areas of the country.

The superintendent of the Temuco Fire Department, Alfredo Lassalle, highlighted the technical preparation and commitment of the volunteers, but warned about the need to speed up pending financing projects.

Fighting forest fires requires specific clothing, tools, and materials, different from those used in structural emergencies. In that context, Lassalle acknowledged the support provided by the Regional Government and the Municipality of Temuco during different stages of the strategic plan, and called for accelerating the approval and delivery of pending resources.

The availability of this equipment is essential to guarantee adequate safety conditions for personnel and to consolidate the operational capacity of the companies against forest and interface fires.