A persistent wildfire within Argentina's Quebrada del Condorito National Park entered its sixth consecutive day of intense activity as of October 15, 2025, continuing to test the resilience of the vital Andean Condor sanctuary. The blaze, which reportedly ignited on Friday, October 10, 2025, following an incident involving a vehicle fire along the Altas Cumbres route, has swept across more than 4,000 hectares of native grasslands and forests. This fire is considered the most complex one this year in Córdoba Province.
Containment efforts remain a massive undertaking, mobilizing over 200 dedicated personnel, including firefighters from various protected areas across the country who were placed on alert. Aerial deployment has been crucial, involving nine aircraft, including water-bombing planes and helicopters, working against the park's rugged topography. However, initial operational tempo was severely dictated by adverse meteorological conditions, including strong winds and high temperatures, which complicated control efforts and contributed to rapid spread. While conditions recently improved, allowing for the resumption of crucial air support to cool hotspots, the terrain itself presents a major challenge to ground crews.
The ecological impact is significant, affecting the high-altitude plateau ecosystem established in 1996. The park is an essential refuge for the protected Andean Condor, a species known for its vast wingspan, which relies on these remote areas for nesting and foraging. The National Park remains closed to the public as authorities diligently work to stabilize the situation and quantify the full ecological toll. The closure reflects a necessary pause to shield the environment from external intrusion during recovery.
The crisis has also presented immediate operational hazards. On October 15, a firefighter sustained a skull fracture and cuts after being directly hit by the water jet from a firefighting aircraft while working on a steep slope. The official was hospitalized but reported to be out of danger. The incident underscores the inherent risks faced by response teams battling the blaze in the difficult-to-access mountainous terrain of the Cordoba Province.