Helicopters battle wildfire threatening Ecuador’s capital

Quito's authorities have documented nearly 200 wildfires between June and September, as the city grapples with a severe drought. In a bid to combat a major blaze on Casitagua hill, which overlooks the capital, firefighters were backed up by four helicopters on Friday. Around 100 firefighters were on the ground, battling two hotspots on the hill, where thick columns of smoke were billowing into the sky.

Captain Pablo Andino of the Quito Fire Department explained to AFP that the area is densely covered with brush and trees, with gusty winds accelerating the fire's spread. He emphasized that the firefighters were at considerable risk due to these challenging conditions. Quito had experienced a month-long period without rainfall, leading to extremely dry conditions that had fueled multiple fires, with eight still active on Friday.

Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries or damages to homes thus far. On Thursday, approximately 50 people were evacuated from northern Quito as a precautionary measure. The mayor of Quito, Pabel Munoz, estimated that the flames on Casitagua had consumed around 100 hectares of land.

Two military and police training academies, along with residential complexes, are situated at the base of the hill. Residents took matters into their own hands by digging a trench and throwing dirt into it to hinder the flames' advance. Marta Gonzalez, a 68-year-old seamstress living in the area, shared her experience with AFP, stating that the community had come together to protect their homes.

City authorities have recorded nearly 200 wildfires between June and September, which have scorched about 1,200 hectares of forest in the capital. In 2024, Quito faced one of its worst forest fires in decades when a blaze started deliberately resulted in the injuries of six people and the destruction of homes.