Conaf Director indicates that forest fire in Viña del Mar is of “human origin” | National

The Executive Director of Conaf, Christian Little, described the genesis of the forest fire that affects the upper sector of the Viña del Mar commune, Valparaíso region, as of “human origin”.

Christian Little, Executive Director of the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf), indicated that the fire that affects the upper part of Viña del Mar It is “human origin and is causing the damage it is causing”.

In this sense, Little asserted that the emergency that -according to the Fire Department- has destroyed 200 houses “might have been avoided”.

“There is significant environmental damage herethen once more ask all citizens to support us in prevention activities, “he added.

He also pointed out that the deployment of Conaf aircraft at the site of the event is being evaluated for this Friday.

In turn, on Thursday night the Government decreed state of constitutional exception of catastrophe due to public calamityTherefore, a head of National Defense will be appointed who will have the power to take control of the area.

The announcement was delivered by the Undersecretary of the Interior, Manuel Monsalve, who indicated that the area manager may limit constitutional rights and have control of the city.

“The President of the Republic has instructed to declare a State of Constitutional Exception of Catastrophe due to public calamity, the decree is being drafted and this implies that a head of National Defense will be appointed, who will have the power to limit constitutional rights, eventually of meeting and transfer”, he affirmed.

Preliminarily, it was reported that there are 110 hectares affected by the action of the fire in Ciudad Jardín.

For his part, the commander of the Viña del Mar Fire Department, Patricio Brito, indicated that so far they have burned regarding 200 houses for the fires affecting the city and called on the public to stay away from the emergency.

“Approximately 200 houses and a number of hectares are burning.we want to call on the people who attend the emergency not to do so, they do not let the firefighters work (…) the situation is critical, the wind is quite strong and calls to stay at home or evacuate ”, expressed Brito.