The Ministry of Security stated that the outbreaks were intentional and detailed the deployment of federal resources
The objective, the agency stated, is to fight forest fires through a deployment that includes water-bombing planes, helicopters, brigade members, firefighters from the Federal Forces, and heavy equipment, integrated into the provincial emergency system.
According to the communiqué, since its creation AFE has maintained continuous monitoring of risks linked to emergencies and disasters. In that context, during the month of October all the provinces were warned about a high-risk season.
Javier Milei's Government, through the National Security Ministry, reported that it is investigating deliberate acts in the area affected by the forest fires in the province of Chubut and stated that there would be a "possible link to self-proclaimed Mapuche terrorist groups".
The agency stated this in an official communiqué in which it detailed the deployment of federal resources to fight the fire and provided details on the progress of judicial investigations regarding the origin of the outbreaks.
According to the text released by the department headed by Alejandra Monteoliva, in the affected area "deliberate acts are being investigated with a possible link to self-proclaimed Mapuche terrorist groups, with proven records of attacks against public safety and private property, under the modality of environmental terrorism".
In that context, the Ministry emphasized:"There will be no impunity. The Ministry will identify, arrest, and bring to trial those responsible. Whoever starts a fire will pay".
The communiqué also indicated that the intervening prosecutor reported the presence of accelerants at the site, which confirms the intentional nature of the fire. In addition, it was stressed that "95% of fires have a human origin" and that no storms or natural discharges were recorded in the area that could explain the start of the fire.
In parallel with the investigative tasks, the National Security Ministry reported that the Federal Emergency Agency (AFE) "operates in a full, permanent, and coordinated manner throughout the national territory" and, in particular, in the province of Chubut.
Furthermore, the Ministry specified that since December 2 a permanent monitoring of AFE's operational deployment throughout the country has been published, with updated information on status reports, available resources, and federal assistance.
In relation to the fire affecting Puerto Patriada, the official text detailed that the federal operation includes 46 brigade members, volunteer firefighters, technical teams and pilots, in addition to four water-bombing planes, a helicopter, pickup trucks, quad bikes, and fire engines. To this is added an active deployment in other outbreaks within the province and operational coverage throughout the national territory.
The agency stated that, within the framework of the so-called Summer Plan, the operational presence in risk areas and strategic corridors was reinforced, and that the response capacity was expanded and is "fully active".
Finally, the National Security Ministry thanked the brigade members, firefighters, and provincial and federal teams who are working in the field and warned:"To those who endanger the population, the environment, and our forces: we will find you".
For the moment, the fire has already consumed around 2,000 hectares of native vegetation and planted forests and has forced the evacuation of two tourist villages located on the outskirts of Lake Epuyén.
