Argentina Wildfire Started by Camper Making Coffee
On Tuesday, amidst a searing heatwave, Argentina’s central Córdoba province witnessed the evacuation of hundreds of residents from their homes, prompted by the rapid growth of wildfires. Haunting videos and images shared on social media depicted a colossal wall of fire inching closer to populated areas, while hundreds of firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the encroaching flames that had already reached some homes in the vicinity.
The provincial government reported a total of 960 firefighters actively engaged in battling the wildfires, supported by eight firefighting aircraft and two helicopters. According to The Telegraph, authorities issued evacuation orders for 300 individuals, while an additional 300 opted for self-evacuation.
By Wednesday afternoon, authorities announced that they had largely brought the fires under control. However, the nation remained at an “extreme” risk of fire due to persistent dry conditions and strong winds. Despite significant progress made by the firefighters, active hot spots, including a rekindled fire in the Tulumba area of northern Córdoba, continued to pose challenges, as per provincial officials.
Local media reports indicated that temperatures in recent days had soared to 35 degrees Celsius, with wind gusts reaching speeds of up to 70 kilometers per hour. Notably, a 27-year-old individual named Ulises Xarate was apprehended and accused of igniting a fire on Monday afternoon in close proximity to the city of Villa Carlos Paz in the Punilla region of the province. Local reports, citing prosecutor Jorgelina Gómez, revealed that Xarate admitted to starting a campfire to brew coffee but lost control of the flames due to strong winds.
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