Chile - Firefighting Equipment and Services
The National Forestry Corporation (CONAF) is Chile’s government agency that leads forestry firefighting. It is supported by the Emergency Committee of the Ministry of Interior and by the National Emergency Office (ONEMI), which is equivalent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the United States. In the private sector, CONAF works closely with CORMA, a Chilean trade association to brings together over 170 entities from the forestry sector.
Carabineros de Chile and the Investigative Police, through the Ministry of Interior, work to specify the causes of forest fires, and CONAF works in coordination with both institutions to support the work they carry out.
The annual forest fire season in Chile runs from October/November to April/May, with the peak fire season falling between the months of December to February. Although CONAF has its own fleet of airplanes and helicopters for firefighting and ONEMI also has a couple of aircrafts, in most years it is not enough and CONAF must announce tenders to hire additional services of firefighting aircraft for the season.
CONAF also has an annual budget for regular planned acquisitions and basic equipment that needs to be replaced every year. These acquisitions are done through Mercado Publico (www.mercadopublico.cl), the Chilean platform for government acquisitions. Chilean and foreign companies may register in Mercado Publico as suppliers. Below is a list of CONAF planned acquisitions for the season 2021-2022:
| Regular Planned Acquisitions | Description |
|---|---|
| Water Equipment | Mark-3 motor pump, includes fuel tank |
| Water Equipment | Mini-Striker motor pump |
| Water Equipment | Rancher 125 GAL. with foam dispenser system |
| Water Equipment | Striker III motor pump (Ultra Striker) |
| Water Equipment | Versax Portable 9 HP Motor Pump |
| Water Equipment | Back Pump |
| Manual Tools | MCLeod rake |
| Manual Tools | Forest Shovel |
| Manual Tools | Pulaski |
| Manual Tools | Two edged graze |
| Manual Tools | Reaper Rake |
| Manual Tools | Fire extinguisher |
| Hoses | 20” Chainsaw with Bar Includes Stihl Professional Combination Drum |
| Hoses | 1 1/2” x100 ‘Hotline Hose Section with Instantaneous Union (Yellow Spec 187) |
| Hoses | Spec 187 1.5” x100 ‘hose length with snap fittings |
| Hoses | Section of Self-Moistening Staflo Hose 1.5” x30 Mts. with instantaneous unions |
| Hoses | 1” x100 ‘Spec 187 hose run with snap fittings |
| Radion Communications Equipment | Portable equipment |
| Radio Communications Equipment | Portable battery |
| Radio Communications Equipment | Basic equipment |
For further information on Firefighting Equipment and Services, please contact Isabel M. Valenzuela at Isabel.valenzuela@trade.gov.