July 14, 2022 – 23:09
The area was impassable due to the large amount of smoke caused by the grass fires. There are still active outbreaks, although the fire is under control.
The alert for the strong winds that would run tonight was given from the early hours of the afternoon. The gusts of wind exceeded 90 km per hour in the area of La Silleta and the fires did not take long to spread. The dry grasslands due to the strong frosts of recent weeks, combined with the hot winds that ran were, at first, the cause of the fires that are registered on both sides of the West Beltway, between the routes that go to Cerrillos and the one that goes to Campo Quijano, at the height of San Luis.
Photo: Nicholas Kripper
From Civil Defense they warn that due to the large amount of smoke the section of the western ring road, between the section of routes 51 and 68, is impassable. At the moment, 10 fire crews are working, trying to put out the flames. They also reported that after 9:30 p.m., a total of 100 hectares adjoining the West Beltway had been suffocated by the fire, while another 100 hectares of Rosario de Lerma were also affected.
Residents are advised not to leave their homes and avoid passing through the area.
From Aguas del Norte they reported that they are assisting with personnel and two tank trucks with a capacity of 8,000 liters each, to the firefighters who work to control the forest fires in the areas of Circunvalación Oeste and Ruta 51.
While firefighters continue to work in the area most affected by the fires, the San Bernardo hospital has already activated an alert for assistance to possible intoxicated and injured people.
Live from the scene, El Tribuno met with Salta Police Chief Miguel Ceballos, who confirmed that 10 Police and Volunteer firefighters are working on the fire. “The wind does not help us, because it is running very strongly, but we do not have to mourn victims at the moment,” said Ceballos, who stressed that the families who live in the area are alert and attentive, since the situation, although it is controlled , you have to take care of the houses near the fire.
At the moment it is not ruled out that this fire was provoked, because once it is extinguished, a study will be carried out on the situation.
In addition to San Luis, 10 hectares were also burned in the town of Cerrillos.
The recommendation continues to be that the neighbors avoid circulating in the area, to avoid accidents and also to those who live near the igneous sources that if they are in danger, they urgently call 911, informing about the situation of the fires.
While the troops continue to work in the area, some neighbors also joined with water to help put out the fire and prevent the power poles from burning.