2021 Argentine Patagonia wildfires explained

The Argentine Patagonia wildfires begun on Sunday March 7, 2021 when a focus of fire appeared at kilometer 21 of Provincial Route 6 of Río Negro Province, Argentina. Subsequently, the fire spread to Las Golondrinas, Lago Puelo, El Hoyo, El Maitén and Cholila in Chubut Province, following the 42nd parallel south.^[1] The fire would spread aided by the wind reaching populated areas where there have been reports of burned vehicles and the destruction of hundreds of houses.^{[2] [3]} Servicio Nacional del Manejo del Fuego helped people evacuate the area. Various causes have been proposed for the fire, including the fall of a trees on electrical transmission cables, given that the fires follow the electrical wiring. Intentional fires have also been proposed as a cause.^[4] National minister of Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible, Juan Cabandié, called for an investigation through a criminal complaint about the causes of the fire.^[5] As of March 12, 2021, 11 people were missing.

Chronology

• March 7 a fire appears at the kilometer 21 of Provincial Route 6 of Río Negro Province.
• March 9 a new fire appears in Las Golondrinas y en Cerro Radal (northwestern Chubut Province). The fire spreads greatly due to high wind speeds and elevated temperatures.^[6]
• March 10 there where actives fires at El Boquete (Bariloche, Río Negro), Tehuelches, Solís and in Población Carril (Chubut). The fires in Futaleufú and Cushamen where by then under control.^[7]

See also

• Drought in Chile

Notes and References

1. Web site: Preocupación por nuevos incendios forestales en Río Negro y Chubut: las llamas llegaron a la zona urbana. 2021-03-10. March 10, 2021. infobae. Spanish.
2. Web site: Incendios en la Patagonia: la lluvia traería alivio pero hay cientos de casas quemadas y evacuados. 2021-03-10. La Izquierda Diario - Red internacional. Spanish.
3. News: Incendios en la Patagonia: Chubut y Río Negro registran focos activos, hay heridos y cientos de evacuados. 2021-03-10. 2021-03-10. www.lanacion.com.ar. Spanish.
4. Web site: La principal hipótesis de cómo empezó el incendio en la Patagonia. 2021-03-12. ambito.com.
5. Web site: Juan Cabandié: "Hay 11 personas desaparecidas y más de 200 casas afectadas". 2021-03-12. March 11, 2021. Radio AM 750. Spanish.
6. News: Fotos: Los incendios forestales en el sur de Argentina, en imágenes. El País. 2021-03-11. 2021-03-12. 1134-6582. Spanish.
7. News: Incendios en la Patagonia: Chubut y Río Negro registran focos activos, hay heridos y cientos de evacuados. 2021-03-12. 2021-03-11. La Nación. Spanish.