Minister of the Interior gives new balance on forest fires in Tolima and Quindío
On August 14, 2026, the Tolima department reported 33 active wildfires, while Cundinamarca had six forest fires, five of which were still active and one was 95% controlled. During a holiday period, emergency services across the country worked at maximum capacity to manage these incidents. In Tolima, firefighting efforts involved aerial support and ground crews in 17 municipalities, including Ortega, San Luis, Guamo, Honda, Chaparral, and Valle de San Juan. The minister of the Interior, Rodrigo Lara, provided an update stating that fires in Tolima, San Luis, and Ortega were under control with ground personnel and aerial assistance. However, the fire in Carmen de Apicalá remained active, with reinforcement units being deployed from San Luis. In Quindío, the fire in Génova was controlled, and measures were underway to prevent reignition. Authorities emphasized ongoing monitoring and coordination, highlighting the heroic efforts of firefighters. Additional resources, including police aircraft, forestry brigades, and water tankers, supported operations in affected areas.
More than two dozen wildfires remain active in Tolima, a department in central Colombia, as the country grapples with the effects of the extreme El Niño phenomenon, according to officials. The situation has escalated sharply in recent days, with new fires breaking out and existing ones spreading rapidly due to high temperatures and dry conditions. As of early Monday morning, the fire in Gualanday, a corregimiento of Coello, had intensified, adding to the growing crisis. The Ministry of Interior confirmed that 150 firefighters are currently deployed across 13 municipalities in Tolima to contain the blazes. Additional personnel, including 90 more firefighters from regions such as Jamundí, Tuluá, the Oriental Antioquia, Bogotá, and Huila, have been mobilized to assist in efforts to suppress the flames. These firefighters are working in areas such as Suárez, Armero Guayabal, Villahermosa, Líbano, Rovira, Chaparral, Carmen de Apicalá, Coyaima, Coello, Espinal, and Fresno. In addition to Tolima, other departments are experiencing similar challenges. In Cundinamarca, authorities reported 10 active wildfires, while one each was recorded in Magdalena and Valle del Cauca. Officials highlighted that the situations in Carmen de Apicalá and Suárez within Tolima require special attention due to their severity. The National Unit for Risk Management (Ungrd) has already organized aerial support to address the emergency. The governor of Cundinamarca, Jorge Emilio Rey, stated that since Thursday, five wildfires have been managed in the municipalities of La Vega, Guaduas, Puerto Salgar, Lenguazaque, and Girardot. He emphasized the continuous monitoring and coordination with local municipalities to ensure effective response measures. In La Vega, firefighting teams worked in a high mountain area with difficult access, involving over 40 members of emergency organizations and the community. Meanwhile, the National Environmental Authority (Anla) authorized Hidroituango to raise the water level of its dam from 408 meters to 420 meters above sea level, providing an additional 12 meters of storage capacity. This decision, made by Environment Minister Fabio Arjona, is temporary and will remain in effect until the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology, and Environmental Studies (Ideam) confirms the end of conditions associated with El Niño. The authorization allows Hidroituango to clear vegetation from areas that would be submerged once the dam reaches its maximum capacity, a process permitted since 2009. Arjona urged citizens to avoid activities such as open burning, campfires, and cigarette butts, warning that these practices could spiral out of control during this period of heightened risk. He noted that dry vegetation and shrubs are particularly susceptible to catching fire due to the early onset of the extreme El Niño phenomenon. The official added that the phenomenon officially began in June, three months earlier than anticipated, and is expected to set new temperature records in the Pacific Ocean. Temperature data from the ERA5 system, processed by La Silla Vacía and compared to the average temperature over the past 20 years in four regions of Colombia, including Bogotá, reveal a rising trend in temperatures that has worsened in the last year. This increase aligns with previous El Niño events, notably the extreme one in 2016 and the moderate one in 2023–2024. In Nariño, a southern department, five major wildfires were reported in the municipalities of La Unión, Buesaco, Chachagüí, and Samaniego on Friday. One of these fires affected a main road, forcing vehicles to stop due to intense flames and smoke. Authorities confirmed that these emergencies are linked to the El Niño phenomenon, which has led to increased wildfire activity across the region. In La Unión, a fire in the Juanambú canyon impacted 25 hectares, affecting the surrounding areas of Reyes, Mayo, and El Peligro. Residents of the small village of Reyes faced severe distress as the flames reached their fields and livestock. In Buesaco, another fire remained active in the Parapetos area and the Nariz del Diablo sector, disrupting traffic between Buesaco and La Unión due to thick smoke reducing visibility. In Chachagüí, fires continued into the night in Cano Bajo and La Estancia. In Samaniego, a large fire broke out near the Chupinagán settlement, with reports indicating that the fire was spreading due to strong winds. Local authorities noted that many of these fires are human-caused, prompting calls for greater resources and support for firefighting efforts. Iván Guzmán, a representative from La Unión, described the damage caused by the fires, noting that farms, crops, and even homes have been destroyed. He requested immediate assistance for the firefighters, who he said are operating under dire conditions, with damaged equipment and insufficient supplies. Guzmán also called on the governor of Nariño, Luis Alfonso Escobar, to prioritize aid for La Unión following the declaration of an emergency.
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