Overview
- The council unanimously approved Ordinance No. 1388/2026, declaring emergencies across seven areas—fire, social, environmental, economic, tourism, housing and health—effective until June 30.
- Mayor José Contreras is authorized to make direct purchases, reallocate budgets, accept donations and seek urgent support from provincial and national governments.
- Roughly 12,000 hectares have burned since January 5, with homes destroyed, water and power services disrupted and the summer tourist season largely stalled.
- Reactivations near Lago Epuyén and Puerto Patriada pushed smoke into town as westerly gusts near 40–50 km/h raised the prospect of preventive evacuations, with forecasts of rain alongside stronger winds that could reach about 90 km/h.
- At the national level, Deputy Juan Pablo Luque proposed an emergency law for Patagonia to unlock immediate federal funds and rejected attempts to tie the fires to Mapuche communities.