Wildfires fill Cuenca’s sky with smoke as firefighters battle at least six nearby blazes

Three armed forces helicopters shuttled between local lakes and wildfires Thursday, dropping water from Bambi buckets on fires in the mountains near Cuenca. The fires have created smokey conditions in Cuenca and surrounding communities since early in the week.

A wildfire burns south of Cuenca.

As a result of the fires, municipal and provincial health officials are advising those with compromised health conditions to stay indoors as much as possible. “Since early in the week, air quality in Cuenca has entered the moderately unhealthy range on several occasions and we urge residents with respiratory and heart conditions to avoid outdoor exposure,” said Maria Perez, city health advisor.

According to the district firefighting command, at least 10 fires remain active in Azuay Province, including six near Cuenca. “Drought conditions have unfortunately created favorable conditions for the fires, making the job of firefighters difficult,” a command spokesman said. “Many of the fires are located in steep terrain, some of them inaccessible to firefighters, requiring water drops from helicopters.”

According to firefighting command, fires continue to burn in Gañadel, Cumbe, Gullanzhapa, Tarqui, Tigranaloma and Baños. Except for a new fire in the Cajas Mountains near Molleturo, the fires have been contained but could require days to extinguish, it says.

Although the heavy rain that fell in the Amazon region Thursday is expected to continue through Saturday, forecasters say dry conditions will persist in Cuenca and the intermountain valley.