Fires in Patagonia threaten ancient forests and heritage site

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Smoke from wildfires in Argentina’s Patagonia turned parts of Los Alerces National Park into a scene rangers described as if it were under attack, as large flames and thick plumes spread through drought-stricken forests and disrupted the region’s tourist season. The wildfires have burned more than 45,000 hectares (174 square miles) over the last month and a half, AP reported, and as of Monday the fire was still spreading, with evacuations affecting residents and visitors.

At the center of the anger is President Javier Milei’s austerity record and, in the eyes of some park staff and firefighters, the way it has shaped wildfire preparedness. Luis Schinelli, one of 16 park rangers covering Los Alerces National Park’s 259,000-hectare area, said there was “a political decision to dismantle firefighting institutions,” and added that “Teams are stretched beyond their limits.”

The cuts cited by AP include changes made after Milei took office two years earlier on a campaign to rescue Argentina’s economy from decades of debt. AP reported that Milei’s government slashed spending on the National Fire Management Service by 80% in 2024 compared with the previous year, according to AP’s account of the agency’s role in deploying brigades, maintaining air tankers, purchasing additional gear and tracking fire hazards. AP also said a budget analysis of the 2026 plan by the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation, or FARN, found another 71% reduction in funds this year.

Firefighters and park staff said the timing of the retrenchment matters because climate change is making extreme weather more frequent and severe, increasing the odds of severe wildfires. Hernán Mondino, a firefighter who described working long days in Los Alerces with sweat and soot on his face, said, “Climate change is something that’s undeniable. This is us living it,” and he argued that “But we see no sign that the government is concerned about our situation.” AP reported that Argentina’s Ministry of Security, which took oversight of firefighting efforts after Milei downgraded the Ministry of Environment, did not respond to requests for comment.

FARN’s director Andrés Nápoli framed the emergency as the result of long-term decisions rather than a shortfall limited to the moment the flames broke out. He said, “Fires are not something you only fight once they exist. They must be addressed beforehand through planning, infrastructure and forecasting,” and he added that “All the prevention work that’s so important to do year-round has essentially been abandoned.”

AP reported that Milei’s government also made cuts affecting the National Park Administration, and that staff reductions and deregulation measures have made it harder to monitor fire danger, clear trails and educate visitors about protecting parks. Alejo Fardjoume, a union representative for national park workers, said, “If you increase the number of visitors while cutting staff, you risk losing control,” adding that “The consequences of these decisions is not always immediate, they will be noticed cumulatively, progressively.” AP reported, too, that last March the government scrapped a requirement that tourist activities like glacier treks and rock climbs be overseen by licensed guides.

Fire managers in Los Alerces described the operational strain that comes with fewer staff and reduced funding. AP reported that a 2023 National Park Administration report recommended a minimum deployment of 700 firefighters to cover the land under the agency’s purview, while the agency employs 391 and has lost about 10% of staff in layoffs and resignations in the last two years. Firefighters said budget cuts scaled back training capacity and reduced available equipment, leaving many to rely on secondhand protective suits and donated gear.

As the wildfire crisis continued, Milei’s handling of the response became part of the political story. AP said that for about a month, Milei said little about the fires and kept moving his schedule, including dancing onstage to Argentine rock ballads as provincial governors asked him to declare a state of emergency to release federal funds. AP reported that centrist lawmaker Maximiliano Ferraro criticized Milei, saying, “While Patagonia burns, the president is having fun singing,” and that left-leaning opposition parties staged protests across provinces.

On Thursday, AP reported, Milei relented and decreed a state of emergency, unlocking $70,000 for volunteer firefighters and announcing “a historic fight against fire” on social media. At a base camp over the weekend, volunteer medics tended to firefighters’ irritated sinuses and sore legs, and some volunteers expressed hope that additional help would arrive, while others described the decree as symbolic; Mariana Rivas, one of the volunteers, said, “It hurts because it’s not just a beautiful landscape, it’s where we live,” and she added, “There’s anger about what could have been avoided, and anger because every year it gets worse.”