6 hurt as wildfires rage in Ecuador's capital

By Laura Gamba

BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) – Ecuador’s capital declared a state of emergency Wednesday due to seven wildfires that have left at least six injured and prompted the evacuation of more than 100 families, said authorities.

Quito’s Mayor Pabel Munoz said the emergency has forced the deployment of 2,000 firefighters, the military and rescuers and 107 families were evacuated and seven homes were affected by the fires, which broke out on Tuesday.

“The fires will not end in the next few hours. They will surely continue into the night,” Munoz said.

So far, the fires have affected more than 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of forests and enveloped a large part of the city in a thick cloud of smoke and ash.

President Daniel Noboa, who was fulfilling an official agenda at the UN General Assembly in New York was forced to return to the capital to "command all efforts against the enemy we are facing," he announced.

"We’re experiencing the worst climate situation in decades, which calls for urgent decisions at all levels of government,” Noboa said.

Authorities confirmed that human ignition is to blame for the blazes. A police officer is reported to have found two barrels with flammable material near the area where a big forest fire began on Tuesday. Police are offering rewards to those who provide information that helps identify the authors of the premeditated scourge.

Those responsible for causing the fire will be prosecuted for terrorism, President Noboa said.

Classes were suspended Wednesday and government entities worked remotely due to the bad air quality in Quito, which has faced strong forest fires for three weeks due to the effects of widespread drought.

Ecuador, Brazil, Peru and Colombia are experiencing their worst drought and have recorded the hottest temperatures in decades.