CONAF Metropolitan Region and Bodegas San Francisco (BSF) have signed a collaboration agreement to prevent, mitigate and combat forest fires affecting strategic sectors in the capital region.
The agreement contemplates joint efforts to prevent forest fires in an area of common interest, determined around the logistics centers in the municipalities of Pudahuel and Maipú and the surrounding communities.
The agreement defines a work area that encompasses the following communities; Pradera de Lo Aguirre, Lo Aguirre, Ciudad de Los Valles, Lomas de Lo Aguirre, Villa Couso and Casas Viejas.
Elke Huss, Regional Director of CONAF RM , emphasizes: “This signing of the agreement is an important step toward forest fire prevention, in collaboration with private companies and the public service.
“As CONAF Pública, we are now primarily focused on fire prevention. As the new Regional Director of the metropolitan area, I will continue the work left by the former Regional Director, Rodrigo Illesca, with the entire team to continue working on forest fire prevention.”
CONAF Deputy Executive Director Rodrigo Illesca added: “We thank Bodegas San Francisco for all their contributions and the CONAF Metropolitan Region forest fire prevention team for carrying out these actions at this facility and for the community, which will undoubtedly be safer.”
As part of the agreement, the CONAF RM team has already begun conducting risk assessments and will provide talks and training on forest fire prevention in all of Bodegas San Francisco‘s logistics centers over the coming months.
Additionally, during June and July, they will work on efforts with surrounding communities, with an emphasis on creating firebreaks and fuel barriers.
For its part, Bodegas San Francisco has expressed interest in supporting activities aimed at the conservation, protection and improvement of environmental and safety conditions in the Metropolitan Region.
Sergio Barros, General Manager of Bodegas San Francisco stated: “At Bodegas San Francisco, we deeply believe in the value of public-private collaboration.
“That’s why this partnership with CONAF Pública fills us with pride. We understand that protecting the environment in which we operate is not only an institutional responsibility, but also a duty.
“The agreement we are signing today will strengthen our emergency response capacity in strategic sectors of Pudahuel and Maipú, where we interact with residents and businesses.”
Additionally, BSF will contribute by constructing firebreaks and fuel cuts at least once a year in each of the areas determined in conjunction with CONAF.
In addition to coordinating and supporting training talks on forest fire prevention and mitigation, disseminating information through signage and authorizing the supply of water to four water storage tanks, each with a capacity of just over 500 m3, located in three BSF logistics centers.
It’s important to highlight that the partnership was made possible thanks to joint efforts with the Municipality of Pudahuel.
Mauricio Monroy, a professional from the municipality’s Disaster Risk Management Department, added: “This partnership is designed to provide an effective and efficient response to forest fires.
“We are always working together toward this goal and the beneficiaries will be the residents of the municipality of Pudahuel .”
CONAF Metropolitan Region and Bodegas San Francisco have signed a collaboration agreement to prevent, mitigate and combat forest fires.
