Peru Urges Farmers to Stop Burns During Devastating Fire Season, Reports Reuters

LIMA (Reuters) – Peruvian Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen on Monday urged farming communities to refrain from burning grasslands in the Andean and Amazonian regions, a practice linked to deadly wildfires that have claimed at least 15 lives this season.

Wildfires are a common occurrence in Peru from August to November, primarily attributed to the burning of dry grasslands to expand agricultural areas and occasionally caused by illegal land trafficking, as reported by the Ministry of the Environment.

"Please, I beg you to stop burning grass. All the fires happening nationwide have been started by humans," the prime minister stated during a press conference.

As of Sunday, the civil defense agency reported 222 fire emergencies, with 80% of them already under control. Adrianzen warned that the ongoing dry season, coupled with stronger winds and challenging access, could lead to a resurgence of the fires.

The most significant fires have been identified in the regions of Cuzco, San Martin, Amazonas, Ucayali, Madre de Dios, and Ancash, according to local authorities.

Health Minister Cesar Vasquez announced that the wildfires have resulted in 15 fatalities and left 134 others injured.

Various officials have called for increased governmental action to combat the fires. Firefighters and volunteers are working to extinguish flames in hard-to-reach areas by using water and manually breaking up the ground with branches to prevent further spread.

The governor of Ucayali, Manuel Gambini, has requested military aircraft to assist firefighters and volunteers, as the region’s rugged terrain complicates efforts to tackle the blazes affecting palm and cocoa crops.

(Report by Marco Aquino; Writing by Alexander Villegas; Editing by Sandra Maler)