Temuco Fire Department obtains national accreditation to respond to major forest fires

The Temuco Fire Department achieved an important advance in its capacity to respond to forest emergencies, after its Forest Task Force obtained official accreditation from Chile's National Fire Operations System. The recognition was finalized on Sunday, October 25, following a practical and operational evaluation that lasted nearly three days.

With this certification, the Temuco team became the 16th Task Force accredited at the national level and the first in the Medium category to achieve this standard from the Biobío Region southward. This will allow its members to be mobilized to different areas of the country to support large-scale forest emergencies.

More than a year of preparation

The process formally began in May 2025, with institutional planning aimed at forming a specialized unit that would meet the technical, administrative, and operational requirements of the national system. The initiative was led by Fourth Commander Christian Mellado, with the participation of volunteers from different companies and the technical support of mentor Rodolfo Valdivia.

Of the approximately 120 initial enrollees, 52 firefighters ultimately completed the process and achieved accreditation. The preparation included specialized training, logistical planning, and exercises designed to evaluate the team's autonomy, coordination, and command capacity.

Reinforcement for fighting forest fires

The accreditation is part of a strategy to expand response capabilities for forest and interface fires, which directly threaten homes and populated areas.

In this context, Temuco Fire Department expanded its forest specialty from an initial staffing of 40 volunteers to more than 150, through the incorporation of members from the Fourth Company, Bomba España; the Tenth Company, of Labranza; and the Twelfth Company, of the Fundo El Carmen sector, who joined the experience of the Thirteenth Company.

The training had the support of the Temuco Fire School and the experience of the Thirteenth Company, as well as the collaboration of the National Forest Corporation (Conaf).

A season marked by greater risks

During the final evaluation, the volunteers had to demonstrate their tactical, logistical, and operational capabilities in simulated high-complexity scenarios. The examination concluded at the Temuco Fire Development Center, where institutional authorities received confirmation of the favorable result.

Juan Quevedo, commander of the Ñuñoa Fire Department and national operational focal point of the National Operations System, highlighted the demands of the accreditation process and the importance of having self-sufficient teams to act in large-scale emergencies.

Likewise, he warned that the rainfall accumulated during the previous months has favored the growth of vegetation that could become fuel during periods of high temperatures, increasing the complexity of the upcoming forest fire season.

With this accreditation, Temuco Fire Department strengthens its deployment capacity within and outside La Araucanía, adding specialized resources to contribute to the protection of communities, homes, and ecosystems against forest emergencies.