During an emergency, no property is above human life. Finally, they called on the population to respect security perimeters after a fire and to cooperate with authorities to avoid risk situations. While attending to the incident, the units focused on extinguishing operations, risk assessment, and search and rescue maneuvers. The Meritorious Fire Corps of the Republic of Panama spoke out in response to criticisms following the structural fire in Río Abajo. They indicated that this responsibility falls on other entities, according to current protocols. They also warned about the risk of reactivation of fire hotspots if the area is not kept under control. They explained that in these types of scenarios, the fire can spread rapidly, so operational actions focus on containing the flames and reducing immediate dangers. The institution clarified that it is not responsible for guarding structures once emergency operations are completed. They noted that the entry of unauthorized persons into affected sites can cause new incidents and endanger lives. Regarding material damage, they specified that this can occur as part of the necessary actions to control the fire.
