Friday, January 6, 2023 | 1:00 a.m.
In order to prevent forest fire scenarios such as those that occurred at the beginning of 2022, the Nation decided to extend the fire emergency throughout the country until January 13, 2024. The measure published yesterday in the Official Gazette, through the Decree 2/2023, aims to strengthen prevention, rapid action against new sources and an immediate restoration of the affected areas.
In addition, the decision comes in the context of a new wave of extreme heat that is plaguing a large part of the country. From the National Meteorological Service they launched an alert, since the conditions will take place in the center and north of Argentina.
“As of today -by yesterday-, the maximum temperatures can reach between 33° and 42°, with the highest values in La Pampa, west of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, sectors of the Litoral and NOA.”
Regarding the decree, it is argued that “the growing number of sources of forest, rural, grassland and interface fires in our country constitutes a worrisome multi-causal phenomenon that demands the adoption of immediate measures, through maximum coordination and cooperation between the organizations to which this issue is transversal”.
In turn, the document warns about the “adverse outlook” posed by climate change with prolonged droughts, which “extend and repeat themselves recurrently during the summer months in recent years, causing the fire season to no longer be just seasonal; finding this situation favored by human activities and weather and environmental conditions.
Fires in Misiones
Faced with this climatic context, the Ministry of Ecology of the province, through its social networks, reported that “the risk of fires is between high and extreme in the Central and Southern areas of Misiones. We remember that burning is prohibited.
According to the latest record of the Misiones Police Firefighters, only in December 2022, 47 interventions were reported, following complaints from neighbors, in the southern area of Misiones due to small brush burns and five fires in forest areas.
Fortunately, all were controlled and did not progress to further complications.
A burning ban remains in effect in the province, as extremely dry conditions and wind can spread fire quickly and cause extensive damage.
Likewise, it is recalled that in the event of observing a fire source, citizens must immediately contact 911 or the nearest police station, so that specialized troops can put out the fire quickly.
Today there will be highs of 36° in the South
From the Early Warning Directorate, under the Ministry of Ecology of Misiones, they stressed that the weather conditions for today will be: “Good, clear weather and low humidity in the environment.” It will remain cool to mild in the morning, while the afternoon will be slightly warmer than yesterday. Due to these conditions, the maximum for the day will be 36° for Apóstoles and the minimum will be 15° in San Pedro at night. On the other hand, for tomorrow, “the weather remains good and mostly clear, hot and with low relative humidity. The trend for the next few days is for a stable environment with little change in temperature,” said Early Warning. In this way, it is expected that the thermals will reach 35° for Posadas and the minimum will be 15° in the Bernardo de Irigoyen area.
From the National Meteorological Service (SNM) they announced that the conditions of extreme heat and dry will continue until Tuesday, January 10.
