Brush fires rage in Venezuela's Perija mountain range

www.vheadline.com Posted: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Machiques (Zulia) Mayor Alfonso Marquez has called on the government and the Environment & Renewable Resources (MARNR) Ministry for help to quench a brush fire that has devastated 1,000 hectares of forest in the Perija highlands extending to Aroy (River Macoita), Toromo (Negro River) and Karnapa (head of Apon River).

“There are 50 national park rangers and volunteers fighting the two-week blaze but it’s not enough … we need more volunteers and a helicopter with a special tank that can hold 1,000 liters of water. "

• Marquez says such equipment has been used to control fires in the Avila hills overlooking Caracas.

Yukpa Indians fear they may lose their means of livelihood, if the blaze continues and Mayor Marquez warns that water reservoirs may dry up shortly making the situation even more drastic.