Quito, the capital of Ecuador, was hit by nine wildfire events during this past September 17. Seven of the fires have already been controlled, according to the city’s Fire Department.
So far, no figures on injuries or affected homes have been released. At least 45 people were preventively evacuated from Casitagua hill, according to the latest report from the Quito Municipality. This area in the northernmost part of the city is currently the most affected by the emergencies.
The Secretary of Security of the Metropolitan District of Quito, Carolina Andrade, mentioned yesterday that in that site they estimate “about 200 hectares that could already be affected,” which “means a very strong and painful impact on the vegetation, on the city’s national heritage.”
“We give our best effort and work day and night to control the wildfire on Casitagua hill. Throughout the night, our team remained deployed, which allowed reducing the speed of fire spread. Today, we continue uninterruptedly with control efforts,” stated the fire department.
To combat the emergency, more than 90 personnel are deployed in operations, 60 people in crisis management, and 20 vehicles. The Municipal Corporation, government entities, the Armed Forces, and the National Police are some of the actors present on the ground.
In the La Vicentina neighborhood, efforts to face the flames also continue, with control and extinguishing work by the Fire Department. The alleged person responsible for starting the wildfire in this area is already in preventive detention. According to the Municipality of Quito, he will be tried on October 12.
