Patagonia governors ask Milei to declare emergency as wildfires continue to rage

The Patagonia wildfires continue to ravage the region, as authorities confirmed on Thursday that over 45,000 hectares of woodland have been scorched by the ongoing fires.  Wildfires have mainly affected the province of Chubut, but have also reached as far as Mendoza, San Luis, La Pampa, Buenos Aires, Neuquén, and Río Negro. Droughts, changing winds and increasing temperatures have made it very difficult for firefighters to contain them. The severity of the situation has led regional governors to ask the Milei administration for more immediate actions.  Ignacio Torres (Chubut), Sergio Ziliotto (La Pampa), Alberto Weretilneck (Río Negro), Rolando Figueroa (Neuquén), and Claudio Vidal (Santa Cruz) met virtually on Tuesday to discuss asking the national government to declare a state of emergency, which would allow the administration to legally allocate unlimited funds to fight the fires. Argentina media outlets have reported that the government is currently debating whether to include the request in the February extraordinary sessions of Congress, set to begin next Tuesday.  On Thursday’s Official Gazette, the government published Resolution 91/2026, a series of measures implemented by the security ministry aimed at strengthening the nationwide volunteer fire department system. Chief among the the recourse presented is the transfer of over AR$100,000 to be distributed among 1,062 associations. The funds are earmarked for the purchase of equipment, materials, clothing, and other items necessary for firefighting and civil protection, as well as for their maintenance. The impact of area drought It was confirmed on Thursday that over 45,000 hectares of woodland have been scorched by the ongoing fires, as the drought in the area favors their spread, and the situation has reached a critical point.  “The drought is terrible,” firefighter Rubén Oliva told La Nacion+. “There was practically no snowfall in winter, and we don’t have abundant rainfall to help either.” According to Oliva, the fires have encircled the Los Alerces National Park after a new front opened during the recent reignition. The weather has remained uncooperative, with changing winds making the behavior of the flames unpredictable and complicating planning operations.  Oliva also spoke about the mental fatigue in the firefighters, who have been working since the fires first broke out on January 5. “It comes a time when it’s very difficult to support and cheer on your staff,” he said, highlighting the support of their families and admitting one of the firefighters had recently celebrated his birthday while working to control the fires.  “What’s pushing us is saving lives and homes,” he said.