Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-21 · by Steven Grattan The Associated Press
Colombian authorities declared a public calamity as a wildfire threatened Villa de Leyva, a popular tourist town northeast of Bogota. By Sunday evening, the fire had scorched about 290 hectares (717 acres) and was approximately 50% under control with over 400 responders involved in firefighting efforts using four helicopters to drop water. The disaster is attributed to dry conditions exacerbated by El Niño; since June 16, Colombia has recorded 438 forest fires affecting about 7,153 hectares of vegetation across 191 municipalities.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A massive wildfire threatened Villa de Leyva, a popular tourist town in central Colombia, starting on Saturday night near San Marcos hillside. The fire had already consumed 40 hectares of native forest and forced evacuations due to its proximity to populated areas. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella pledged state resources to combat the blaze, including dispatching firefighting aircraft and a military helicopter.
By Sunday evening, about 290 hectares (equivalent to 400 soccer fields) had been affected by the fire, with authorities reporting it was around 50% contained. The response involved over 400 firefighters, emergency workers, residents, and volunteers, along with four helicopters that dropped approximately 240,000 liters of water. The incident underscores the impact of dry conditions exacerbated by El Niño on wildfire risks in Colombia.
Written for “Colombia Forest Fire Threat” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
Colombian authorities declared a public calamity as a wildfire burned through mountains surrounding one of the country’s best-known colonial towns in the northeast, scorching large swaths of vegetation and forcing evacuations.
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wildfire → declare → evacuations
Dry conditions have increased fire danger in Colombia as it braces for the effects of El Niño, which can help wildfires spread.
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wildfires → increase → Niño
Fire affects tourist area in Colombia
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Fire → affect → Colombia
The fire in Villa de Leyva, a popular tourist destination about 160 kilometers (100 miles) northeast of the capital, Bogota, began Saturday on a mountain overlooking the town.
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fire → begin → town
By Sunday evening, authorities said about 290 hectares (717 acres) had been affected — an area roughly equivalent to 400 soccer fields — and the blaze was about 50% under control.
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blaze → say → control
Strong winds have complicated efforts to contain the flames, which at times advanced toward populated areas.
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which → complicate → areas
Local authorities declared an emergency, suspended in-person classes Monday and carried out preventive evacuations, including at hotels near the fire.
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authorities → declare → fire
More than 400 firefighters, emergency workers, residents and volunteers took part in the response, while four helicopters dropped water on the flames.
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helicopters → take → flames
Carlos Amaya, governor of Boyaca state, where Villa de Leyva is located, said aircraft carried out about 170 water drops Sunday, releasing some 240,000 liters (63,400 gallons).
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aircraft → locate → liters
Environment Minister Fabio Arjona said preliminary information from the disaster management agency suggested it may have been deliberately started, but authorities were still investigating.
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authorities → say → agency
President Abelardo De La Espriella said Sunday on X the Villa de Leyva fire was about 50% controlled and contained on the ground.
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fire → say → ground
Colombia’s national disaster management agency said in its latest nationwide update that authorities were monitoring 27 forest fires, with 19 still active and eight under control.
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authorities → say → control
Nine of the active fires were in Tolima, a mountainous region southwest of Bogotá, while others were burning across several parts of the country’s Andean region.
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others → burn → region
The weather agency said last week that 279 municipalities were under some level of wildfire warning, including 36 under its highest, red-alert level, with much of the risk concentrated in the Andean and Caribbean regions.
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much → say → regions
Between June 16 and Aug. 6, Colombia recorded 438 forest fires in 191 municipalities, affecting about 7,153 hectares (17,675 acres) of vegetation, according to government figures.
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Colombia → record → figures
Ecuador battles wildfires
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Ecuador → battle → wildfires
Neighboring Ecuador is also battling a wave of wildfires.
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Ecuador → neighbor → wildfires
Ecuador’s national risk management agency said Sunday that 12 fires remained active across the country, while more than 21,800 hectares (53,900 acres) of vegetation have burned so far this year.
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hectares → say → vegetation
High temperatures and strong winds have helped flames spread rapidly in some areas.
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flames → help → areas
A fire on the slopes of Ecuador’s Imbabura volcano burned about 300 hectares (740 acres) before being brought under control Sunday after three days of firefighting.
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fire → burn → firefighting
El Niño is a periodic warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean that can reduce rainfall and raise temperatures in parts of the country, creating conditions that allow wildfires to spread more easily.
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wildfires → reduce → conditions
Disaster officials have said the period of greatest risk across the region from the developing El Niño is expected between October and April, with wildfires and water shortages among the main concerns. ___
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wildfires → say → concerns
The Aporia
