The governor of ChubutIgnacio “Nacho” Torresannounced through his social networks that, together with the governors, mayors and officials of the Patagoniathey requested the National Congress to urgently declare the Igneous Emergency at the national level.
The governors of Black RiverAlberto Weretilneck; of Santa Cruz, Claudio Vidal; and of Land of FireGustavo Melella, together with the mayors of EsquelMatías Taccetta; of The HoleCésar Salamín; of Lake PueloIván Fernández; from Cholila, Silvio Bourdgham; and of The MaitenOscar Currilén. Also the Minister of Security of La Pampa, Horacio Di Nápoli, and the Minister of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources of the province of Neuquén, Leticia Esteves.
Initially, the press conference was called for 4 p.m. at the headquarters of the Las Golondrinas Brigade of the Provincial Fire Management Service. However, the governor first postponed it until 8 p.m. and then suspended it. Given the presence of a group of protesters at the door, Torres, present at the scene, refused to leave. This was confirmed by the mayor of Lago Puelo, Iván Fernández, when he left the place. The governor never showed his face.
The staging for networks is presented in the midst of a critical situation marked by large-scale forest fires that aggravate the environmental and social disaster in the region with thousands of hectares affected for the second consecutive year. only in Epuyén one hundred families lost the entire last yearor, of which only a dozen were able to rebuild their homes. Solidarity and organization from below contrasts with the lack of resources and the socio-environmental crisis awakens more and more anger and repudiation of the actions of governments.
Torres wanted to exonerate himself by pointing out that the Patagonian provinces had already declared a fire emergency in October 2025, and that the current scale of the fires “requires exceptional tools” and coordination between the national State and the provinces, following recent examples from countries such as Chile and the United States. In his message, the governor appealed to a national unity speechstating that “fire does not recognize limits or distinguish between political parties,” and called on all blocks of Congress to urgently support the project to “protect the lives of Argentines.”
However, behind this institutional call they try to hide their own responsibilities, since the same governors who today demand extraordinary resources are the ones who accompanied – with their vote or their complicit silence – the brutal adjustment promoted by the government of Javier Miley. In the case of Chubut, Torres should explain why the senators Edith Terenzi y Andrea Cristina They voted on the 2026 Budget, which implies a 78.5% cut in the items destined for the Federal Fire Management System.
The consequences of this adjustment are seen in the territory. The brigadistas They earn poverty wages and work without the minimum resources to face the emergency. While Torres participated in virtual meetings with other governors, the URO truck of the Las Golondrinas brigade remained stopped in the warehouse due to mechanical failures, in the midst of the fire’s advance. During this same week, brigade members of that brigade had to launch a campaign of donations to be able to buy combat backpacks, due to the lack of basic equipment. They also denounced the absence of appropriate clothing: The fireproof clothing available has been used for more than ten years, has been washed multiple times—when its treatment lasts only three—and is mended thanks to the solidarity of a resident of Lago Puelo who collaborates by sewing the uniforms.
In addition to systematic adjustments in environmental matters, there are complaints about the allocation of specific funds. The provincial government of Chubut never responded to what happened to the 600 thousand dollars that the FAO allocated in 2024 for the remediation of the fires in the Andean Region, the 540 million pesos received by the Forest Law —who remain immobilized in the bank— and the 7,000 million pesos sent by the Nation to assist those affected by the fires in Epuyén.
The governors who present themselves today as defenders of life are the same ones who promote extractivism and real estate speculationstructural causes of the climate crisis and fires. Furthermore, while they talk about emergency and solidarity, they continue to allocate millions to provincial debt payment and aligning with an economic program that prioritizes fiscal adjustment above any social or environmental need. Resources that could—and should—be immediately allocated to fighting the fire, strengthening prevention and guaranteeing decent conditions for those who risk their lives on the front lines. The hypocrisy is evident.
These same legislators who today are “concerned” about the fire emergency, How are they going to vote on the labor reform and progress on the Glacier Law, two projects that deepen precariousness, enable the looting of common goods and consolidate the same extractivist and adjustment scheme that fuels environmental catastrophes?
The igneous emergency is not only a consequence of the “adverse climate scenario”, but also of political decisions concrete. A crisis of this magnitude cannot be faced while maintaining a model of adjustment, looting and state disinvestment. Much less when extractivism, real estate speculation and the lack of controls continue to be a structural part of the problem.
From the Left Front Unity A project was presented both last year and this year that goes in the opposite direction to official adjustment and demagoguery. The initiative proposes the declaration of the fire emergency with real and immediate resources, the salary recomposition and transfer to the brigade members, the urgent provision of equipment and infrastructure, and the launch of a comprehensive fire prevention and combat plan under the control of workers and communities. Instead of allocating funds to paying the debt, these resources must be redirected to the protection of territories, the environment and life because an environmental catastrophe cannot be faced with the same policies that deepen it.
To stop the fires that destroy forests, homes and entire territories, it is essential to listen to and support the organization from below of brigade members, assemblies and communities that, once again, are giving a much more supportive and effective response than that of the governments. But also We need to organize and strengthen the fight against the entire adjustment and delivery plan of Milei and the governors.
Source: www.laizquierdadiario.com
