Cuenca Firefighters Used More Than 50,000 Gallons of Water This Month

Forest fires in Cuenca canton rose from two incidents to 19 during the August 2026 holiday period compared with the same period in 2025, according to El Mercurio’s August 12 report. The fires affected more than 120 hectares and required firefighters to use more than 50,000 gallons of water from the public network.

Sixto Heras, head of the Cuenca Fire Department, said the increase is especially concerning during the dry season, when emergency crews are responding to fires while the city is also watching its water supply.

Where the fires were reported

The report identifies incidents in Chocarsí, Sinincay, and Molleturo. In Sinincay, one fire spread to a tire warehouse and then reached a home, increasing the danger to nearby residents and property.

The response is also complicated by terrain. Firefighters sometimes have to travel for up to three hours on foot to reach an active fire, according to the report.

What residents should take from it

This is a dry-season safety issue, not simply a record of isolated rural fires. The combination of dry vegetation, difficult access, and the amount of water used for suppression puts pressure on both emergency response and public resources.

Residents should avoid burning vegetation in or near dry rural areas and follow instructions from the Cuenca Fire Department. The report does not announce a citywide burning ban, so any land-clearing or vegetation-disposal decision should be checked against current local guidance.

For expats living near the canton’s rural edges, the useful practical point is to know how to describe your location clearly and to treat smoke or a nearby vegetation fire as an emergency rather than waiting for it to grow.

Source: El Mercurio