Firefighters and volunteers have succeeded in managing forest fires in five Argentine provinces. However, wildfires continue to rage in two northern regions Jujuy and Salta, the National Fire Management Service (SNMF) said Sunday.
Two firefighting planes and 87 SNMF brigades were deployed in Jujuy as the fires threaten several areas.
Provinces, where firefighters managed to control the fires, included Entre Rios, Catamarca, Corrientes, Cordoba, and Neuquen.
Central Cordoba province has seen a record number of forest fires so far this year that have destroyed more than 300,000 hectares, followed by Entre Rios with over 286,000 hectares destroyed, and Santiago del Estero with 29,000 hectares.
According to official reports, 95 percent of forest fires are sparked by people burning forests to prepare the land for grazing, in addition to unattended bonfires and discarded cigarette butts.
Climatic factors such as lack of rainfall, high temperatures, low humidity, constant frosts, and strong winds also help spread fires, the agency said.
