Fires in Quito leave 782 hectares of lost forests and 19 people injured

Imagen: El Comercio

The Municipality of Quito manages the figure of 19 firefighters injured, three firefighters dead and 782 hectares of forests and scrubs affected. This number will rise because in recent days there have been serious casualties.

Yesterday a person suspected of starting a fire was arrested. With this person, there´s a total of 10 people processed and investigated for this crime that ranges from 1-3 years in prison and up to 16 years if there are victims.

The fires did not stop and yesterday there were eight accidents. The strongest were recorded in Guangopolo, Ilalo, near the Cableway and La Vicentina. In the latter, about 150 people were evacuated. The flames began at 19:40 spread rapidly through guapulo, La Floresta and Auqui hill, on this site two explosions that caused the spread of the fire were heard.

Source: http://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/quito-hectareas-bosques-perdidos-incendios.html