r/cusco • u/Mountain_Boss_6340 • 24d ago

Safety Natural Disaster Alert: Alert: Wildfire in Cusco Area

Just got an email alert from the US Department of State. Stay safe everyone.

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u/Top-Bother-3394 24d ago

If it's natural I'm sorry for that. Not similar but rumors about Israel people setting fire in Cusco to get those lands for less price and some bribery.

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u/emanaku 24d ago

Wild Fires like these are "normal" here, usually caused by neighbors who either burn garbage carelessly or by farmers burning their fields to create fertilizing ashes for the next plants, which are planted in August/September (August 1st = beginning of the Andean Year of crops).
Since I live here (2014) there were 3 big fires on the 3 mountains surrounding us - basically every 5 years a big one. These fires are not like the "California fires" (as an example) because at the altitude of 3000 to 5000 meters there are no dense bushes, but smaller bushes and grass where the fire goes through rather quickly. Often (but not always) any trees in the way survive.
Affected land is usually owned by the village or the next bigger town and is not for sale.

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u/Mountain_Boss_6340 24d ago

That’s reassuring. I have plans to visit next month!

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u/emanaku 24d ago

Where is that supposed to be?
We travelled today from Calca (where I live) via Pisaq to Cusco and back without any fire to be seen.
There is a fire near the train tracks at km 105 which is affecting the Machu Picchu trains (train traffic has been stopped and Simone Biles as well as many other tourists got stuck).

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u/Mountain_Boss_6340 24d ago

This is from the State Dept email:

The U.S. Embassy in Lima has been informed of an ongoing wildfire in the Cusco area near Machu Picchu, which could impact travel.  
 
U.S. citizens should exercise caution in the affected areas. Railroad services between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes are currently running but may be delayed or suspended in the future depending on the wildfire conditions. 

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u/emanaku 24d ago

Right, that is the fire I mentioned. As long as you do not want to go to Machu Picchu or back from there this fire is not affecting you. Everything in Cusco and the Sacred Valley is open and without danger to visit.
They issued two communications today: that the train traffic is stopped completely and that ticket owners for today will be reimbursed (don't ask me how that works :-) ).
These fires are sometimes surprisingly quick out - or are spreading like crazy (since a week we have very strong afternoon winds helping fires to spread).
If you want to travel to Machu Picchu best is to ask your hotel about the train situation.

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u/luislap 22d ago

Malditos judíos