On Saturday, 22. September, an extensive fire started at a hillside close to the research station. Thanks to the 24 people that have currently stayed at the station, 4 firemen from Loja and local residents from Sabanilla, the fire had been under control after six hours without damaging the test sides from the research unit nor the ones from the Technical University of Loja. Nobody was injured and a house from a local resident (lower central part of the image) could be safed from the flames.