By: Andrés Vera. WV Bolivia Communications Manager.
Like hell, that's the way to describe how some hills in the area are like. Pine trees and others are burning without control since Saturday in The Sama uphill. The department of Tarija is facing its biggest woods fire ever.

It is also affecting directly the city of Tarija, for smoke and ashes are covering the city's airspace. It looks like the traditional methods to prepare the soil (chaqueo) could be the cause of the fire. So far 10.000 Has. have been affected . More than 50 families have been evacuated for security reasons., and some others are under warning. There are so far 7 Affected zones: Erquis North and south, San Andrés, El Rincon de la Victoria, Lazaretto, Coimata and Los Pinos. San Andrés is precisely were one of World Vision Traditional Projects used to be, so Nancy Gutierrez World Vision's PER (Prevention, Emergency and Rehabilitation) program Coordinator is evaluating the situation and will issue a more accurate report soon., but we will help those families we worked with before in all they may need. Meanwhile Bolivia's government is already asking for neighbor country's help to control the fire, for they lack the methods and machines to do so. Firemen are not enough to fight the fires that have spread all over, so up to now, fires are still rampaging running wild and likely to affect not only woods but towns as well.

For more info, call Nancy Gutierrez, WV Bolivia Relief and Emergency Manager at: 00 591 2 237 5549.
For stories and pictures, call Andrés Vera, WV Bolivia Communications Manager at 00 591 2 237 2951.