STORY: Firefighters in Argentina’s Chubut province battled relentlessly on Monday (February 2) to contain wildfires that have scorched an estimated 50,000 hectares, as crews hoped for lighter rain and cooler temperatures to ease their struggle.

The blazes, fueled by strong winds over the weekend, forced the temporary closure of two provincial roads and overwhelmed firefighters, who were often forced to retreat for safety. “The forests are so overgrown, it makes our job much harder every time we try to put out a fire,” said Hector Luis Civitareale, a firefighter with decades of experience.

Patagonia forest fires have destroyed an area more than twice the size of Buenos Aires, stirring criticism over austerity measures under President Javier Milei that have significantly cut aid resources. On Thursday (January 29), the government said it would declare an emergency in the southern provinces of Chubut, Rio Negro, Neuquen and La Pampa to help unlock funds.

According to the Federal Emergency Agency, the fire in the provincial jurisdiction is now contained, but the blaze in Los Alerces National Park continues to spread, consuming 24,000 hectares of native vegetation and pine forests.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: AERIAL VIEWS OF WILDFIRES / FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING MASSIVE WILDFIRES IN ARGENTINA’S CHUBUT PROVINCE / SOUNDBITES FROM FIREFIGHTERS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

SHOWS: EPUYEN, CHUBUT PROVINCE, ARGENTINA (FEBRUARY 2, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. (MUTE) VARIOUS DRONE SHOTS OF A FIRE HOTSPOT IN EPUYEN NEAR THE ROAD

2. VARIOUS OF FLAMES

3. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING BLAZE

4. FIREFIGHTERS WORKING CLOSE TO FIRE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) FIREFIGHTER, HECTOR LUIS CIVITAREALE, SAYING:

"I’ve been with the brigade since 2005, and it’s really tough. The forests are so overgrown, it makes our job much harder every time we try to extinguish a fire."

6. VARIOUS OF VEHICLES DRIVING NEAR A FIRE HOTSPOT

7. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTERS WORKING TO CONTAIN BLAZE

8. FIREFIGHTERS CUTTING TREE

9. VARIOUS OF FIREFIGHTER SPRAYING WATER WITH A HOSE TO COOL AREA

10. (MUTE) DRONE SHOT OF SMOKE AND BURNED FOREST

11. VARIOUS OF WATER TANK TRUCK DRIVER, RAUL PINEDA, TALKING WITH OTHER VOLUNTEERS

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) WATER TANK TRUCK DRIVER, RAUL PINEDA, SAYING:

"I’m 31, not that old, but this is really tough. I’ve never seen anything that big. From what I’ve heard from older folks, neither have they. We’ve been fighting fires in this area for a month and a half. It’s very worrying—45,000 or 50,000 hectares have burned, if I’m not mistaken."

13. (MUTE) DRONE SHOT OF SMOKE AND BURNED FOREST

14. (MUTE) DRONE SHOT OF SMOKE

15. FIREFIGHTER BATTLING FIRE WITH A WATER LINE

16. BURNING GRASSLANDS

17. FIREFIGHTER BATTLING FIRE WITH A WATER LINE

18. EXTINGUISHED AREA AFTER FIREFIGHTERS’ EFFORTS