09:52 | Cusco (Cusco region), Oct. 12.
The
President of the Republic, Keiko Fujimori, on Sunday night oversaw government actions to combat wildfires in various Peruvian regions from the National Emergency Operations Center (COEN), including the deployment of helicopters and aircraft, as well as coordination with the authorities responsible for responding to these emergencies.
During her visit, the Head of State received a report on the national situation and noted that 385 wildfires have been recorded so far this year.
Likewise, the top official highlighted ongoing operations in Cusco and Junin regions, where active fires persist.
"Minister Vinelli was in Cusco today (on Sunday) precisely to ensure that the measures I ordered are being implemented. We currently have two helicopters in Cusco and a Spartan aircraft carrying water containers so that we can bring the two fires that are still active under control tomorrow or the day after," she explained.
Afterwards, the President reported that a third helicopter equipped with a firefighting bucket was in Junin, where a wildfire remains active in the Rio Tambo district.
In this context, she explained that the use of aircraft depends on the characteristics of the affected areas.
"This bucket can carry 1,200 liters of water and is very practical. However, depending on the area, either a helicopter or, in other cases, an aircraft is used. The Spartan aircraft can transport these containers, each holding 1,000 liters of water," Fujimori indicated.
At another point, the top official announced that additional firefighting buckets had been purchased and are expected to arrive soon as part of preparedness measures for risks that could arise next year due to El Niño phenomenon.
The Head of State warned that drought conditions can contribute to the spread of wildfires and urged citizens to exercise extreme caution when conducting burning activities, particularly for agricultural purposes.
"What I would recommend is that people exercise great caution when carrying out burns, because these fires could get out of control this year and next year, especially due to the El Niño phenomenon. So, let us be much more careful," she said.
Moreover, the President thanked organized community groups and firefighters for their initial response to these emergencies, explaining that the Armed Forces step in when blazes exceed local response capabilities.
Operations in Cusco
In turn, Agrarian Development and Irrigation Minister Marco Vinelli reported that, on President Fujimori's orders, the two helicopters equipped with firefighting buckets will remain in Cusco until approximately November to respond to wildfire emergencies.
Minister Vinelli noted that four wildfires had been identified during his visit to the region.
However, thanks to coordinated efforts involving the Regional Government, firefighters, the Armed Forces, and local residents, only two fires remained active when he left the region.
He also noted that the situation requires constant assessment due to wind conditions, drought, and land preparation for agricultural activities.
Continuous monitoring
Meanwhile, National Emergency Operations Center Director Martin del Castillo reported that wildfires are being continuously monitored through coordination with authorities at all levels of government.
"We are continuously monitoring the situation. We are in contact with all municipalities, local governments, and regional governments, which are keeping us informed of the status of all wildfires, both active and contained," he pointed out.
(END) FHG/JCR/MVB
Publicado: 12/10/2026