Patagonia wildfires continue as national park workers call for more government support

Описание: (2 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cholila, Argentina - 29 January 2026
1. Aerial of wildfire ++MUTE++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alerces National Park, Argentina - 31 January 2026
2. Wildfire burning
3. Various of firefighters walking uphill to battle wildfires
4. Burning tree stump
5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Hernán Mondino, National Park firefighter:
"There are 390 of us (firefighters) today. When (Argentina's president, Javier) Milei’s administration began, there were 430. In other words, we are short-staffed. There are also many resignations. For example, right now, colleagues are resigning because the money just isn't enough. The salary is low."
6. Firefighter fighting fire by ancient Coihue tree
7. Firefighter cleaning eyes from excessive smoke
8. Various of firefighters resting
9. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) César Toledo, National Park ranger:
"We need there to be a few more resources (to be used) outside of the fires themselves - not just for the fires that break out here, where a ton of resources are used up. A lot is spent on the emergency itself. But I believe our strength and our greatest tool is prevention, and I don't think we are using it enough because the resources just aren't there."
10. Aerial of smoke rising from wildfire
11. Firefighters in Futalaufquen Lake
12. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Ariel Rodríguez, Alerces National Park superintendent:
"Regarding the firefighting efforts specifically, there is no resource deficit. Today we have firefighters from all over the country who have arrived not only in ground vehicles but also by air, in planes. We have more than 250 people assigned to the fire suppression efforts."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cholila, Argentina - 29 January 2026
14. Aerial of burnt area ++MUTE++
15. Volunteer firefighter fighting wildfires
16. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Ailin Feu, volunteer firefighter:
"The Milei government hasn't provided any resources for us. Take the case of the National Parks brigade members - those in the Forest Fire Service or the National Fire Management Service; they have pathetic salaries. I mean, the guys in the National Parks who are dedicated to tackling the fires earn 700,000 pesos, while a basic food basket in the South is almost double that amount. So, it’s clear from the resources allocated for firefighting that they aren't actually interested in fighting them."
17. Various of firefighter
18. Aerial of wildfire ++MUTE++
STORYLINE:
Clouds of smoke have been engulfing the slopes of Argentina’s Patagonia region as wildfires continue to burn, threatening vast swaths of a renowned national park.

Large areas of Los Alerces National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site home to 2,600-year-old trees, are now ablaze. 

The wildfires, among the worst to hit Argentina in decades, have already devastated over 40,000 hectares (almost 100,000 acres) of land in Argentina’s northern Patagonia region and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents and tourists.

As of early Monday, the blazes were still spreading — and Argentina’s fire season is just getting underway. 

The crisis has reignited anger toward the country’s president, Javier Milei, whose harsh austerity drive in the last two years has drastically slashed spending on a range of programs and agencies that not only work to battle flames but also protect national parks and prevent fires from igniting and spreading in the first place.

Across Argentina’s National Park Administration, the fiscal shock program has led to the dismissal or resignation of hundreds of rangers, firefighters and administrative workers, staff members have said.







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