Guatemala, Mar 10 (Prensa Latina) Guatemalan rescuers continue today fighting actions against a forest fire on the slopes of the Atitlán volcano, which is advancing uncontrollably and threatening the biodiversity of the place.
The colossus is located between Santiago Atitlán and San Lucas Tolimán, department of Sololá, next to the famous Lake Atitlán, and is a refuge for birds such as the quetzal, which could lose their reduced habitat with the flames.
This Wednesday, the Army reported the continuity of the work of dozens of brigade members and volunteers in the face of a change in wind direction in the last hours, which caused the flames to cross into some preventive gaps and caused the fire to spread to the south face of the cone.
To launch water, they will use a military helicopter and two spray planes, while ground personnel continue with other types of work to prevent the spread of the flames, according to the party.
Conred, meanwhile, specified that the day before 275 people participated in the fire control plans, in addition to a helicopter from the Guatemalan Air Force that supported with a thousand gallons of water.
The fire affects the protected area Multiple Use Reserve of the Lake Atitlán Basin and other private areas, including Tarrales, Vesubio, San Jerónimo, Miramar, Santa Teresa, Panama and Refugio del Quetzal.
So far, the institutions are unaware of the damage, although they agree to classify the disaster as of great magnitude.