The fire goes out, but what remains?: what no one says but everyone covers up.

X-ray of a fire that seeks to redesign our map while polarization distracts us from what is important – February 19, 2026

Patagonia burned and the snow came like a breath that is not enough. More than 60,000 hectares in the Chubut mountain range were turned into ash this summer. The main focus of Puerto Patriada, El Hoyo, Epuyén and Cholila took away ancient forests of larches, lengas and ñires that will take centuries to return to what they were.

But behind the smoke there is an architecture that is not coincidental. On January 5, 2026, while Governor Ignacio “Nacho” Torres was meeting with mayors of the Andean Region, the fire started in Puerto Patriada. That same month, six FMK2 grenades from the Argentine Army appeared in Lake Epuyén, right at ground zero. Is this just negligence or are we seeing the execution of a pre-written script? Why doesn’t this information spread in other media outlets or go viral?

Historically, large land dispossessions have required “stories” and chaos to advance. Today fire seems to be the tool to «clean» the map of what is in the way. As if the land did not matter, as if the forest, nature, did not feel, as if it did not generate anything. Are we so disconnected from where we are going to take refuge to have a break or meet up? That place where we all say it is beautiful and we long to go, but we only take care of it for the post on the networks, and then? Do we forget? Can we really do nothing more than share a post in stories? The fire did not start anywhere. It began in and around former exotic pine plantations that the State promoted for decades. Those pine trees burn quickly, spreading the fire at explosive speed. Chance?…

Some stories from neighbors:

• «I warned the authorities about the risk, but no one listened. 51 days of fire… and silence.»
• “We put out a light, they prohibited us from entering and hours later it revived.”
• “I saw three people setting fires at night in Cañadón Las Arenas, with accelerants.”
• “These fires were intentional… they want Patagonia and they are coming for the water.”

And now the question that can no longer be avoided: Who gets those 60,000 burned hectares? Are they going to allow themselves to be invaded by more pine trees that are later sold as lumber? Will tourist lots or projects appear that change the landscape forever while large capitals—Benetton with almost 924,000 hectares, Joe Lewis with thousands around lakes and others that continue to accumulate—buy cheaply what the fire “cleaned”? This dispossession mechanism is reminiscent of the territorial fragmentation plans that have circulated for decades: create chaos, weaken sovereignty and then offer the private “solution.” Is the Andina Plan moving forward?

Are we so asleep that we see military grenades, governors in key meetings right at the beginning of the disaster and forest laws that become a dead letter, and we continue to believe that it is just «bad luck» or blaming characters that do not need to be mentioned and that we all know sit at the same table? The pattern is repeated in all governments: millions of hectares are made easier to pass into foreign hands and the use of the land is changed after the fire. Is it a conspiracy or is it the voracity of a system that no longer has brakes?

The snow gave a pause. Now it’s our turn not to waste it. Let’s not allow ourselves to be distracted by mutual blame while the territory is handed over. Enough of repeating like robots, let’s question the information that inhabits us. Let’s investigate and share knowledge, let’s build networks to support the causes that really help build a better society, a better lifestyle for each person, without serious fanaticism but with the heart of helping to create a new beginning. Enough of giving importance to absurd news, to media that only talk about therians, let’s put our feet on the ground. Let’s not fall into distractions, let’s not give them the place. Let’s question and build our own reality from consciousness.

Let’s connect with what really matters, we can build the country, the world that we deserve.

Actions that we can contribute from our place:

1. Help the firefighters and brigade members who are still fighting:
   • Firefighters Foundation of Argentina (alias: bomberosfund).
   • El Hoyo Volunteer Firefighters (aka: bomberoselhoyo).
   • Cholila Firefighters Association (aka: CHINO.METAL.BORDE).
2. Protect and regenerate the native forest:
   • Donate native trees to Friends of Patagonia o Forest Bank.
   • I demanded that the exotic pine be eradicated on the burned lands. Sovereignty is defended with native species, not with industrial fuels.
3. If you travel south: Report suspicious outbreaks to 0800-222-3469 and participate in community plantings.
4. Press so that it does not repeat itself: Ask publicly what the plan is for the 60,000 hectares. Viralize this note. Let’s not accept the «post-truth» that they want to sell us. One voice wakes up ten. Ten wake up a hundred.
5. Contact us if you have any action that can contribute to the regeneration of the natural ecosystem or any other action so that this continues to be discussed. @GabrielBustamant_

Patagonia does not belong to a few or to a foreign or local «master plan.» It’s ours. Let’s stop sleeping and start caring, demanding and protecting together.

I shared this. Take action today. Because if we don’t do it… who?

Contact us if you want to add your voice or from the place you feel you can contribute so that we continue expanding real information: @GabrielBustamant_

The truth does not wait for permission. Let’s walk awake.