Forest fire rages in Yaruquí, northeast of Quito

A forest fire erupted Saturday in the Otón de Vélez sector of Yaruquí, northeast of Quito, prompting a significant response from the Quito Fire Department. Firefighters are battling the blaze, which has established a fire line approximately 600 meters long. The terrain in the "encañonada" area presents considerable challenges to accessing and combating the flames.

Emergency services, including ECU 911, were alerted to the fire and are coordinating efforts with the fire department. The response includes an incident command unit, a fire investigation unit, and unmanned aerial vehicles. These drones provide crucial aerial monitoring, helping teams assess the fire's behavior and adjust their containment strategies.

More than 20 firefighters are on the ground, supported by two mobile forest units and four supply units. Their work involves cooling the area, clearing brush, and establishing control lines to prevent the fire's spread. The goal is to protect nearby flower farms and homes. ECU 911's video surveillance system is also providing continuous monitoring to aid inter-agency coordination.

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Our team is working to contain the advance of the incident which has a fire line of approximately 600 meters.