Cochabamba shrouded in smoke as new wildfire is controlled

The department of Cochabamba, Bolivia, is currently enveloped in a thick haze of smoke due to a new wildfire that erupted in the municipality of Sacaba. The blaze was active for several hours on Saturday before firefighters intervened.

René Camacho, head of the Departmental Disaster Risk Management Unit (UGR), reported that the fire was detected in the morning and personnel were immediately deployed. By the afternoon, the Governor's office announced that the fire in the Kelamayu sector of Sacaba had been controlled, preventing further spread. Preliminary reports indicate the affected vegetation was entirely grassland, with the total affected area still under evaluation.

Camacho noted that Cochabamba has experienced a significant number of wildfires this year, with 48 incidents recorded department-wide. Of these, 21 occurred within the Tunari National Park, a large protected area that frequently faces such threats. The persistent fires contribute to the recurring smoke that blankets the capital city.

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48 fires at the departmental level and within the Tunari Park, 21 fires reported.