Ecuador Fires Mar 1985 UNDRO Situation Reports 1 - 5

UNDRO 85/0597

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS - FIRES -
UNDRO INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
15 MARCH 1985

THE UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE ECUADOR HAS REPORTED THE
FOLLOWING:

1. ON 28 FEBRUARY A GRASS FIRE STARTED ON ISABELA ISLAND, GALA-
PAGOS. THE FIRE SPREAD AND AFFECTED 800 HECTARES OF AGRICULTURAL
LAND BUT APPEARED TO BE UNDER CONTROL FOLLOWING RAIN.

2. THE FIRE, HOWEVER, CONTINUED TO SPREAD UNDERGROUND AND BY 2
MARCH AFFECTED 2,500 HECTARES WHICH FURTHER INCREASED TO 10,000
HECTARES ON 13 MARCH. THE NATIONAL PARK (GALAPAGOS TURTLES AND
INDIGENOUS FAUNA), SECOND AGRICULTURAL ZONE AND TOWN OF PUERTO
VILLAMIL NOW THREATENED. INHABITANTS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN FIRE-
FIGHTING.

3. MILITARY FORCES HAVE BEEN SENT TO ASSIST INHABITANTS AND
EVALUATIONS BEING CARRIED OUT BY CIVIL DEFENSE AND NATIONAL INS-
TITUTE GALAPAGOS. AN AIRCRAFT CARRYING FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT
ALONG WITH TECHNICIANS INCLUDING FORESTRY EXPERTS HAS BEEN SENT
BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. THE TECHNICIANS ARE MAKING AN ASSESS-
MENT VISIT TO THE AREA TODAY, 15 MARCH.

4. THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO ISSUE A LIST OF REQUIREMENTS TO
COMBAT THE FIRE THROUGH UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE. WHEN
RECEIVED, WILL COMMUNICATE ALONG WITH ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148

UNDRO 85/0599

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS - FIRES
UNDRO SITREP NO.1
16 MARCH 1985

SITUATION

1. ON 16 MARCH 1985 THE GOVERNMENT OF ECUADOR FORMALLY REQUESTED
UNDRO TO LAUNCH AN APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, TO
COMBAT THE FIRES AFFECTING THE ISLAND OF ISABELLA (GALAPAGOS)
WHICH ARE ASSUMING ALARMING PROPORTIONS. (SEE UNDRO INFORMATION
REPORT NO. 1 15 MARCH 1985.)

AFFECTED AREAS/DAMAGE

2. GOVERNMENT REPORTS INDICATE THAT THE FIRES HAVE NOW DESTROYED
20,000 HECTARES OF VEGETATION ON THE ISLAND OF ISABELLA. A STATE
OF EMERGENCY HAS BEEN DECLARED IN THE GALAPAGOS ARCHIPELAGO.

REQUIREMENTS

3. UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE HAS REPORTED THAT THE
GOVERNMENT (FORESTRY SERVICE) IS REQUESTING THE FOLLOWING
EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE:

A. SERVICES OF FIREFIGHTING AIRCRAFT FOR WATER BOMBING, OR
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO OBTAIN THESE SERVICES TO THE VALUE OF
US.DOLS 150,000.

B. SERVICES OF SPECIALIZED HELICOPTERS TO TRANSPORT WATER AND
PATROLS TO AFFECTED AREAS.

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE


4. FIREFIGHTERS AND TROOPS HAVE BEEN PARACHUTED INTO THE AREA
AND ARE REPORTED TO BE FIGHTING THE FLAMES ACROSS A 14 KILOMETRE
FRONT BY DIGGING TRENCHES TO ACT AS FIRE BREAKS. 60 ADDITIONAL
MILITARY PERSONNEL BEING DESPATCHED WITH SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT
PROVIDED BY THE U.S GOVERNMENT.

5. THE U.S. FORESTRY SERVICE HAS MADE AVAILABLE AN EXPERT TO
ASSESS THE SITUATION.

7. DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM UNDRO DIRECTLY PREFERABLY BY
TELEX (28148 UNDR CH) OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND CORRESPONDING
VALUE.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148

UNDRO 85/0646

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS - FIRES
UNDRO SITREP NO. 2
21 MARCH 1985

1. SITUATION

AAA) FIRE CONTINUES ON ISABELA ISLAND BUT WIND REDUCTION HAS
SLIGHTLY REDUCED SPEED OF ADVANCE. UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESEN-
TATIVE REPORTS THAT AREA NOW AFFECTED ESTIMATED TO BE 25,000 HEC-
TARES. POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT A VOLCANIC ERUPTION MAY ALSO TAKE
PLACE AND AUTHORITIES HAVE APPEALED TO UNDRO FOR THE SERVICES OF
A VOLCANOLOGIST.

BBB) 250 TROOPS AND VOLUNTEERS ARE ENGAGED IN ARRESTING THE
SPREAD. LATEST REPORTS INDICATE THAT SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL AS-
SISTANCE IS REQUIRED IF THESE EFFORTS ARE TO MEET WITH SUCCESS,
ESPECIALLY IN THE ABSENCE OF RAIN.

CCC) BECAUSE ISABELA ISLAND HAS NO AIRSTRIP, ALL SUPPLIES AND
PERSONNEL TO COMBAT FIRE HAVE BEEN AIRLIFTED TO NEIGHBOURING
BALTRE ISLAND AND THEN CONVEYED BY BOAT. SUPPLY LINE IS DIF-
FICULT TO MAINTAIN.

DDD) SCIENTISTS AND NATURALISTS ARE CONCERNED FOR THE SURVIVAL OF
RARE SPECIES OF FAUNA AND FLORA AS THE FIRE CONTINUES TO DESTROY
VEGETATION.

2. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED TWO PLANES ADAPTED FOR WATER
BOMBING, BUT WILL FIRST SEND AN EXPERT TO EXAMINE THE SITUATION
AND DETERMINE THE UTILISATION OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE CANADIAN EX-
PERT HAS ALREADY ARRIVED IN QUITO AND WAS EXPECTED TO CARRY OUT
ASSESSMENT ON 20 MARCH.

3. REQUIREMENTS

THE GOVERNMENT OF ECUADOR RENEWS ITS EARLIER APPEAL FOR FUNDS TO
HIRE WATER BOMBING AIRCRAFT OR THE PROVISION OF SAME.

4. DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM UNDRO DIRECTLY PREFERABLY BY
TELEX (28148 UNDR CH) OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND CORRESPONDING
VALUE.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148

UNDRO 85/0676

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS - FIRES
UNDRO SITREP NO. 3
25 MARCH 1985

1. SITUATION

UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE REPORTS THAT FIRE CONTINUES IN
FOUR SECTIONS, AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE VOLCANO-SIERRA NEGRA,
NAMELY:

AAA) EL CURA - FIREFIGHTING EFFORTS HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN
HALTING ADVANCE.

BBB) CERRO COLORADO - PARTIAL CONTROL DUE TO FIRE TRENCHES.

CCC) COASTAL AREA - CONCENTRATION OF FIREFIGHTING TEAMS HAS SUC-
CESSFULLY CONTROLLED FIRE.

DDD) SANTO TOMAS - HALF OF AREA CONTROLLED.

2. NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

THE MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE HAS PROVIDED TWO TRACTORS, ARRIVING
ON 22 MARCH. NATIONAL GEOLOGIST AND VOLCANOLOGY EXPERT ON ISABELA
ISLAND SINCE 21 MARCH.

CANADIAN TECHNICAL EXPERTS ON ISABELA, PRESENTLY ASSESSING FEASI-
BILITY OF PROVIDING WATER-BOMBING AIRCRAFT.

UNESCO HAS ANNOUNCED THE SERVICES OF A HYDROLOGIST FOR ONE MONTH
AND GRANTED US DLRS 10,000 TO PROVIDE EQUIPMENT DESIGNED TO FA-
CILITATE WATER EXTRACTION FROM THE TERRAIN.

USA HAS SENT FURTHER SHIPMENT OF FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT INCLUD-
ING PROVISIONS FOR FIRE FIGHTERS.

3. SCIENTISTS WARN THAT DRAMATIC CHANGE IN THE ROUTINE OF ANIMAL
LIFE, COULD THREATEN VERY EXISTENCE OF CERTAIN SPECIES.

4. DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM UNDRO DIRECTLY, PREFERABLY BY
TELEX (28148 UNDR CH) OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND CORRESPONDING
VALUE.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148

UNDRO 85/0890

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS - FIRES
UNDRO SITREP NO. 4
19 APRIL 1985

1. SITUATION

THE UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE HAS GIVEN FOLLOWING UP-
DATED INFORMATION.

AAA) MILITARY ENGINEERS ASSISTED BY OTHER PERSONNEL HAVE SUC-
CEEDED IN ESTABLISHING A 52 KILOMETRE FIRE BREAK TRENCH ON
ISABELA ISLAND, WHICH HAS EFFECTIVELY ISOLATED AND CONTAINED THE
FIRE. THE TRENCH DUG FROM TWO DIRECTIONS FORMS A SECURITY RING
ARRESTING THE SPREAD FROM THE WESTERN SLOPE OF VOLCANO SIERRA
NEGRA AND THE VALLE ALEMANIA BOTH BEING AREAS WHERE THE FIRE CON-
TINUES TO BURN. PATROLS HAVE BEEN MOUNTED AROUND THE ST. TOMAS
AGRICULTURAL SECTOR TO GUARD AGAINST BREAKTHROUGHS.

BBB) ONE CANADIAN WATER BOMBING AIRCRAFT CONTINUES TO OPERATE.
FOOD AND HELICOPTER FUEL, SUPPLIED BY THE USA, IS BEING TRANS-
PORTED FROM BALTRA ISLAND WITH SOME DIFICULTIES DUE TO THE CON-
DITION OF THE LAUNCHES.

2. REQUIREMENTS

THE CIVIL DEFENCE AUTHORITIES ARE REQUESTING ADDITIONAL MATER-
IALS SUCH AS TOOLS, TYRES, HEAVY-DUTY FOOTWEAR (BOOTS), CATER-
PILLAR 120 B. PLOUGHS. CASH GRANTS WOULD APPEAR TO BE MOST EF-
FECTIVE AS MOST AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE LOCALLY.

3. CONTRIBUTIONS

UNDRO GRANT OF US DLRS 20,000 ORIGINALLY REPORTED IN SITREP NO. 1
HAS BEEN USED FOR THE PURCHASE OF MATERIALS, THE PROVISION OF
LODGING FOR FIREFIGHTING CREWS, AND FUEL.

UNESCO HAS OFFERED THE AUTHORITIES UP TO US DLRS 10,000 FROM THE
WORLD HERITAGE FUND FOR THE REPAIR OF INSTALLATIONS DAMAGED IN
THE NATIONAL PARK.

4. DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM UNDRO DIRECTLY, PREFERABLY BY
TELEX (28148 UNDR CH), OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND VALUE.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148

UNDRO 85/1697


GALAPAGOS ISLANDS - FIRES
UNDRO SITREP NO. 5
31 JULY 1985

1. UNDRO HAS RECEIVED THROUGH THE UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT CO-ORDINA-
TOR A FINAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURES AND ASSISTANCE WHICH ENABLED THE
FIRE TO BE EVENTUALLY CONTAINED AND EXTINGUISHED, LEAVING HOWEVER
SERIOUS DEVASTATION IN ITS WAKE.

2. SOON AFTER THE FIRE STARTED, THE GOVERNMENT OF ECUADOR, RE-
ALISING THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION, REQUESTED UNDRO TO
LAUNCH AN INTERNATIONAL APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE IN COMBATTING THE
OUTBREAK. THIS RESULTED IN VARIOUS INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE
BEING RENDERED, ADDITIONAL TO THE IMPORTANT ROLE IN FIGHTING THE
FIRE CARRIED OUT BY THE LOCAL PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES, THE IN-
HABITANTS OF THE ISLAND, THE INGALA STAFF AND THE ARMED FORCES.
ALL HELPED TO IMPLEMENT A FIRE-FIGHTING PLAN THAT HAD BEEN DRAWN
UP BY THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK (FOREST OFFICE)
ASSISTED BY EXPERTS FROM USAID.

3. THE TOTAL AREA FINALLY DEVASTATED BY THE FIRE AMOUNTED TO
30,000 HECTARES. THE FIRE-FIGHTING PLAN MADE USE OF HEAVY DIG-
GING EQUIPMENT TO ESTABLISH FIRE BREAK TRENCHES WHICH SUCCEEDED
IN ISOLATING THE FIRE, THUS AVOIDING FURTHER DESTRUCTION IN THE
ALEMANIA VALLEY, LAS GALAPAGUERAS AND MUCH OF THE FARMING REGION.

4. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE (AS REPORTED TO UNDRO) PROVIDED AN
EFFECTIVE BACK-UP IN SUPPORT OF FIRE-FIGHTING TEAMS ON THE
GROUND. THIS INCLUDED:

(A) THE PROVISION, BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC
(CANADA), OF TWO WATER BOMBING FIRE-FIGHTING AIRCRAFT PLUS FUND-
ING AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE FOR SAME. THESE AIRCRAFT EFFICIENT-
LY ASSISTED OPERATIONS BEING CARRIED OUT ON THE GROUND.

(B) THE PROVISION BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE USA THROUGH USAID OF
ASSISTANCE AMOUNTING TO OVER US DLRS 120,000 WHICH INCLUDED
FOREST FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, BATTERIES, TOOLS, FOOD, ETC. PLUS
POSITIONING OF EXPERTS TO ASSIST LOCAL TEAMS.

(C) THE DONATION OF 12 VHF RADIOS BY THE GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN
WHICH HELPED TO MAINTAIN REGULAR COMMUNICATIONS FACILITATING RE-
LIEF OPERATIONS.

(D) THE PROVISION OF THE SHIP 'RARI' BY THE GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE,
ESSENTIAL IN ASSISTING IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF FOOD AND WATER
BETWEEN GUAYAQUIL AND GALAPAGOS.

(E) CASH GRANTS FOR RELIEF AND REHABILITATION IN US DLRS FROM:

(F) A COMMISSION OF SCIENTISTS AND EXPERTS IS PRESENTLY CARRYING
OUT A STUDY COVERING VARIOUS FIELDS, THE RESULTS OF WHICH WILL
SERVE TO EVALUATE DAMAGE TO THE ISLAND'S FAUNA AND FLORA AND THE
POSSIBILITY OF REGENERATION PROGRAMMES FOR SPECIES WHICH, BECAUSE
OF THE TYPE OF VEGETATION, WILL ONLY COMMENCE WHEN THE WINTER
SEASON ARRIVES. (THE AFFECTED AREA WAS MOSTLY COVERED BY SHRUBS
AND GRASS WHICH DUE TO LACK OF RAIN HAVE NOT REGENERATED).

5. A PLAN FOR VARIOUS REHABILITATION PROJECTS HAS BEEN DRAWN UP
FOR THE ISLAND OF ISABELA WHICH INCLUDES: AGRICULTURAL MECHANI-
ZATION AND RURAL CONSTRUCTION, REPLENISHMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND
LIVESTOCK, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SCHOOL AND A MEDICAL CENTRE AND
EXPANSION OF FISHING ACTIVITIES.

6. THE GOVERNMENT OF ECUADOR (CIVIL DEFENCE) EXPRESSED THROUGH
THE UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT CO-ORDINATOR ITS SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ALL
WHO RENDERED ASSISTANCE IN COMBATTING THIS ENVIRONMENTAL DISAS-
TER.

7. THIS IS THE FINAL UNDRO SITREP ON THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
FIRES.

ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148