Overview
- Firefighters report the blaze remains active near El Pedregoso after igniting Monday afternoon around 16:20, with spread driven by earlier strong winds and low humidity.
- Authorities now estimate the burn area at more than 200 hectares, with evacuations and travel restrictions implemented and no injuries reported.
- Between 140 and 186 personnel are deployed with ground crews, heavy machinery and a helicopter conducting dozens of water drops in steep, unstable terrain near Cerro Pirque.
- A woman voluntarily told authorities she started the fire by placing hot embers on grass, and prosecutors in Lago Puelo opened an ex officio case with fire experts and security‑camera reviews.
- Chubut is under a declared fire emergency for the season, and officials warn of legal penalties of three to ten years in environmental arson cases, citing a 2022 regional precedent.