Peru Aids Ecuador in Fighting Massive Forest Fire

The Peruvian air force responded to a call for firefighting help from Ecuador, which requested air assistance as the flames have already consumed over 4,800 hectares in Quilanga, according to the Risk Management Secretariat of Ecuador (SNGR).

The fire in Quilanga, in southern Ecuador, started a week ago and has forced the evacuation of some inhabitants, according to local media.

According to Colonel Juan Ruesta, Ecuadorian fire brigades are facing adverse conditions to reach the fire area by land, leading them to request Peruvian air support.

"We as an air force are responding to a request from the Ecuadorian air force, to fight forest fires in the town of Quilanga, in Loja, south of Ecuador, which they cannot fight from the air. And so through the system of cooperation of American air forces, (the Ecuadorian air force) asked the Peruvian air force to support them in order to extinguish these fires and mitigate their effects against their population," he added

The Peruvian Armed Forces have responded with water discharges of MI-17 helicopters and SPARTAN aircrafts, with a total of 50,000 gallons of water sprayed over the fire area in Quilanga, they reported through their Facebook page.

SNGR is monitoring eight active forest fires and two others, which are already under control, in seven provinces.

Ecuador and Peru continue with joint maneuvers in the border area where, for days, firefighters and brigades of specialized personnel have been working to combat a forest fire. The flames are located precisely in the Quilanga area, in the Andean province of Loja, in the south of the Andean country.

The magnitude of the incident led the Executive of Dina Boluarte to announce the dispatch of planes and helicopters of the Air Force, which this morning were already in motion, within the framework of the SICOFAA operation with the local Army.