Rocío Brizuela, accused of starting the forest fires in Chubut, rejected the charges and claimed to be a victim of the flames. She reported a raid on her home and requested aid amid the emergency. Prosecutor Carlos Díaz Mayer is investigating a possible link to land disputes in a Mapuche community.
The forest fires ravaging Patagonia, particularly in Chubut, have sparked an intense judicial investigation. Rocío Brizuela, originally from Pergamino and living in the Lago Puelo area, was charged by prosecutor Carlos Díaz Mayer as a possible originator of the flames. In an interview with C5N, Brizuela vehemently denied the accusations: “It surprises me because if the investigation is going that way, it's a disaster. I'm not going to harm my own animals, my own home, and my own family.” She noted losing her home, two horses, and pets, and remaining in a burned forest without electricity or water, working in Puerto Quintín.
Brizuela recounted that her house was raided during the early morning hours, without details on the charges. “They didn't tell me what they're accusing me of. They searched and found nothing. They took my cellphone, my mom's, and my partner's,” she explained. She indicated raids also occurred at homes of close associates. General Commissioner Andrés García, in a press conference, mentioned security camera footage showing two trucks leaving Puerto Patriada with belongings right after the fire started, raising suspicions given the fire's rapid spread.
The probe points to a land dispute in a Mapuche community, though prosecutor Díaz Mayer ruled out involvement by organized Mapuche groups. He confirmed identifying the fire's starting point and warned that the perpetrator could face up to 20 years in prison. In this context, Vice President Victoria Villarruel called for more resources to fight the fires and harsher penalties for those starting intentional blazes, demanding more efficient coordination between the national government and provinces.
The situation in the Andean region remains tense, with evacuations and ongoing operations, as affected communities deal with material and environmental losses.
