In December 2024, the eleventh annual operation began, in which SPF’s partner companies jointly protect their forests.

This summer, the protected area covers 944,579 hectares, distributed across 16 departments and 3,631 forest properties. This coverage means that 89% of the planted forests have an active fire detection and rapid response system, tools that have proven to be the most effective option for preventing fires when other prevention mechanisms have failed.

The annual cost will reach almost USD 4,230,000, which will be paid by the companies in proportion to the area they own.

The hotspots are detected by various mechanisms, the main source being the 65 cameras with artificial intelligence, and the planes hired specifically for that task.

The first response mechanism consists of the three usual Heliborne Brigades, complemented by some companies with fighter jets deployed mainly in the coastal, central and central-eastern areas of the country.

The management, both of detection and of the response and mobilization of resources, is done with personnel, computer systems and means of communication that operate from the Monitoring and Dispatch Center (CMD) located in Durazno.

This summer began after a relatively rainy spring, which meant that the delay in the availability of helicopters compared to the planned start date did not have any consequences in terms of the lack of air combat resources.

Subsequently, the weather (although there have been some severe days in terms of heat and low relative humidity) has not shown the levels of risk of fire spread that occurred in the summers of 21-22 and 22-23.

The outbreaks that have been fought so far have been within the «normal» range, and although prevention and the observance of a careful and restrictive attitude towards fire management must be emphasized, they have not generated alarm or out-of-control situations.

Finally, it should be remembered that there is a need to immediately notify 911 upon detection of any outbreak, and for areas and people linked to the forestry sector, to send the report of the outbreak, plus location and other information that may be available, via WAPP to 098 BOSQUE (267783).