This afternoon, the Chilean President Sebastian Piñera announced the opening of national park of Torres del Paine at 8:00 am January 4th,after fires have consumed over 45,000 acres in 8 days. The fires continue to burn in large sectors, as very old forests are being destroyed and the high winds make it impossible to put out the fire as many continue to battle the flames. At the time the fire started, there were under 20 CONAF park pangers covering 900 acres of the park.
Various Ministers met at 4:00 pm in Puerto Natales today, while in Santaigo President Piñera, in conference with respective leaders in the Ministry in Puerto Natales, made the announcement that tomorrow morning at 8am, January the second, the Natioal Park Torres del Paine, would open and that only 80% of the effected area burned was shrubland. The Chilean government ¨claimed that the park was safe and the fires were all but under control.¨
Last night in the Serrano Town, near Lago Toro, across the pampa and into the hills of the huemule deer, nearby Hotel Grey, the blaze was aflame and seen burning from over 35km away. To the right of the Massif of Torres del Paine, orange flames were seen burning low on the cliffsides of the Paine River. High on Cerro del Toro around 700 meters, ancient Magallanic Beech Tess were seen glowing to the mountainess side above Lago Toro as the winds fueled the fire seen burning at early morning hours.
On the far north east side of the same mountain, a high fire was burning up the mountain side near the Lazo Ranch at Laguna Verde at 4:00 am. The fires had restarted high into the hills and the forests swelled red and orange as high winds sent it rising to the south east. Small fires the size of campfires had kicked up along the road leaving Laguna Verde and in the distance others were spotted along the hill sides.
The Chilean government announced that over 80% of the trails would be re-opened and that there was no danger to enter. The National Camera of Commerence whose services deal directly with tourism and CNC National Services of Tourism, called the Government to support the local businesses by opening the Park. The 150,000 people pass through the Magallanes region, keeping most that work nearby in the tourism sector.
The park Torres del Paine opens Wednsday, January 4th at 8:00am on the back side of the Circuit and the Torres Trail leading into Cuernos Camp, as well as few other areas, while trail control has tightened.
