Bolivia issues "orange alert" for forest fires in 74 towns

LA PAZ, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia has declared an "orange alert" in 74 towns due to the growing risk of forest fires caused by arson or clearing for crops, Deputy Civil Defense Minister Juan Carlos Calvimontes said here on Wednesday.

The "orange alert" is an urgent call for action to prevent an environmental or economic disaster, Calvimontes told a press conference.

He said that forest fires were a dire