Firefighter in protective gear battles a wildfire amid smoke and flames in a burned vegetation area.
ARGENTINA

Córdoba: firefighters battle a rural fire in Pampa de Achala

It began on Friday at noon in the Santa María department, south of the capital city of Córdoba. The police blocked roads

Since midday this Friday,Córdoba firefighters' units  have been fighting a fire in Pampa de Achala, a rural area, in the Santa María department, just a few kilometers (a few miles) from Córdoba's capital.

Due to this,  Córdoba Police reported that provincial route S-271 remains completely closed, at the Gaucho Urbano roundabout, in the Potrerillos area.

The closure is due to the work being carried out at the site to fight the fire.

Red fire truck in the foreground while a wildfire with smoke and dry vegetation can be seen in the background.
The weather isn't helping to extinguish the fire | La Derecha Diario

The Provincial Secretariat for Climate Risk Management, Catastrophe, and Civil Protection reported that the fire is located between San Clemente and Potrero de Garay, west of Los Molinos dam.

Volunteer firefighters from Potrero de Garay, San Clemente, Villa Ciudad de América, Los Reartes, Villa Verna, Villa General Belgrano, Yacanto, Despeñaderos, Villa Amancay, Villa del Dique, and Villa Rumipal are working at the site.

They also have support from ETAC personnel from the Yacanto and La Rancherita bases, from the Provincial Fire Management Plan, and four water-bombing planes, two from the National Fire Management Plan and two from the Province.

For now, the fire hasn't affected any homes

The agency also reported that personnel at the site are fighting the flames to prevent them from reaching two homes in the area.

Person wearing a blue helmet and yellow jacket fights a wildfire in an area of grasslands and dry trees as fire and smoke spread across the land.
The weather isn't helping to extinguish the fire | La Derecha Diario

Fabián Vargas, head of Regional 7 of Córdoba Police, stated that the fire remains active and that about 60 firefighters, four planes—two from the provincial system and two from the national system—are working at the site.

"The weather conditions aren't helping us at all; we have shifting winds, very strong winds with gusts. So far, what's burning is grassland and pine forest," he explained.

He also reported that, for now, no homes have been affected and that the causes of the fire are still unknown.

"At 11:30 a call was received about a column of smoke. About 100 firefighters from several localities in the area and four water-bombing planes are working," said the spokesperson for the Secretariat for Risk Management, Roberto Schreiner.

"There are homes nearby, but we're working to keep the fire from reaching them," he added.

➡️ Argentina

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