Director of CONAF condemns attack on helicopter as it fought to extinguish forest fires in the south
Director of CONAF condemns attack on helicopter as it fought to extinguish forest fires in the south
19 January 2009
published by www.emol.com
Chile — Catalina Bau declared that the act constitutes a criminal attack beyond all comprehension, indicating that those who fight fires work for the entire community.
SANTIAGO.- The Director of the National Forest Corporation (CONAF), Catalina Bau, has stated that the attack on a helicopter that was attempting to put out the forest fire in Tomé, in Region VIII, is unthinkable and shocking.
It is a criminal act that is beyond comprehension, because those who fight fires are acting in the interest of the community, Bau told Radio Cooperativa.
The director confirmed that the sectors of Llanquihue, Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas continue on red alert as well as the Bío Bío and Maule regions. This year we have had large, complex fires that have kept all of our forces occupied, stated Bau.
Furthermore, the director stated that the rest of the regions have been placed on yellow alert due to high temperatures, but indicated that there are currently no homes being threatened by the fires.
The fires have been fought by members of the Armed Forces as well as volunteers from private companies, using planes and helicopters. High temperatures however, continue to spark alerts since the flames could be resuscitated at any moment.
