📋 Tender Overview
A reinforcement that involves increasing the night brigades to prevent and combat forest fires to 29 will be implemented for the new forest fire season.
As reported by the Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, together with the executive director of Conaf, Christian Little, this year the budget for preventive and firefighting activities was increased, so these brigades will also support the construction of firebreaks and protection. critical infrastructure firefighting.
These are 29 brigades composed of between 5 and 10 people or machinery , equipped with fireproof clothing, and will be deployed between the regions of Coquimbo and Magallanes.
These night teams will take advantage of the opportunities provided by night, where humidity conditions increase and temperature decreases, allowing for better consolidation of fire control work.
This new effort in prevention issues is achieved after increasing the budget for preventive and firefighting activities by 47%, compared to the last period.
Forest fire balance
According to figures provided by CONAF, from July 1 to November 12 of this year, 426 fires have occurred, which is equivalent to 244 fewer than last year.
In 2022, as of this date, 670 had been produced. This, among other things, due to the weather conditions in the spring of this year.
Regarding the affected hectares, we can say that this year 4,505 hectares have been affected, last year, as of this date, we had 6,160 hectares.
In that sense, Minister Valenzuela stated that “to date, we have 36% fewer hectares affected by forest fires and almost half of last year's fires and we want to continue on that path, but predicting what is coming to us is complex. since globally we are in a very critical situation and we have to remain very attentive and alert.”
The authorities reported that 2,344 brigade members have been hired, with a territorial deployment that has made it possible to put out 93% of the fires within 5 hectares. This hiring figure represents an increase of 35% compared to 2022.
