Fire controlled in Puelo Lake after rain

The forest fire that has consumed the Puelo Lake area in Chubut since Monday has been eased by the rain and was finally controlled by fire-fighters. The situation had forced residents of El Hoyo town to evacuate.

The head of the provincial Civil Defence unit, Evaristo Melo, indicated that although the rain was weak, it had helped to control the fire.”There is no chance that the fire affects more areas,” the official added.

Melo also reported that a complex of cabins and various houses were damaged and some completely ruined, so many families had to be evacuated from the area.

Meanwhile, Chubut Governor Mario Das Neves confirmed after visiting El Hoyo that the provincial government will rebuild the houses which have been destroyed by the fire in the district and in Puelo Lake.

Earlier, following his meeting with the Crisis Committee, subsecretary of Public Information for Chubut Rubén Fernández, expressed gratitude for the showers and said, “well the best news is that it’s raining, we just hope now that it lasts for the whole day.”

Once the fire spread to El Hoyo town, officials in the area warned of the danger of the flames spreading, and as predicted the strong force winds swept the blaze further to motorway 40, forcing residents of nearby areas to take refuge in a local school last night. The flames also reached Cumehue area, which also had to be totally evacuated.