Firefighters from the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf) are stationed in Coya and Alhué with the support of Codelco División El Teniente, and are on permanent alert to respond to emergencies caused by forest fires in the O'Higgins and Metropolitan regions.

Thanks to a 34-year-old collaboration agreement to prevent and combat forest fires, the El Teniente Division provides Conaf with infrastructure, technology and resources to install brigades on Division property to provide support and coverage in the event of such emergencies.

Convinced that prevention is better than fighting, the Peumo 12 Brigade, based at the Coya Country Club, has been building 3-meter-wide firebreaks in September in the Colinas Verdes route sector, on land adjacent to the La Yesca landfill.

“Due to the terrain and weather conditions, this summer will be a difficult season. We are currently building a preventive firebreak and this is the first time we have seen dry grass that is one metre high,” says Claudio Valenzuela, head of the brigade with 35 years of experience fighting fires.

“Along with preventive tasks, we are characterized by being a rapid reaction brigade. We have a truck that goes out with 4 people in response to an emergency call from the power station. We have a 500-liter tank and motor pumps. We deploy the material and begin to fight while the bulk of the brigade arrives with more material, with tools to make firebreaks and a water tanker truck,” adds Valenzuela, who is in charge of 21 brigade members.

For the period between October 2023 and May 2024, two brigades of 21 people are permanently installed in El Teniente territories: Peumo 12, based at the Coya Country Club; and Roble 11, at the Loncha de Alhué Estate. The Division provides them with access to helicopters, water trucks, command centers and rubber pools, among other logistical support.