Last Thursday, a raging fire destroyed last about 500 hectares of forest and fruit plantations in the province of Chapare in Cochabamba, stated Victor Blanco, the mayor of Chimoré, on Saturday.

"About 500 acres are still burning. There are weeds, trees, grasses and pineapple, citrus, cocoa and banana plantations," he said.

Blanco said the fire had started in the districts 8 and 10 of Chapare and that it was currently spreading and getting closer to some communities.

"The most critical situation is in the towns of Nueva Estrella, Colorado and Tin Useuta, but there are other unions close," he warned.

Blanco added that dozens of technicians and workers from the Civil Defence, the Risk Management Unit of Cochabamba and the Municipality of Chimoré were working to mitigate the fire.

The Air Force is using a helicopter to pour water into the fire's area, but "we need more help and that they send us a helicopter equipped with a Bambi Bucket to release more water more quickly in the area," he concluded.

Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/