Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The Director of State Civil Protection Adrián Martínez Ortega, reported that nearly 8,400 hectares have been burned by 40 fires that have occurred already this year. He says of those 40 fires, 11 remain active.
According to the National Forestry Commission, the state of Quintana Roo has counted 8,397 burned hectares of forest already this year, with two of the larger fires in Chiquilá and Xcabal.
“We are having a very active fire season. The drought is creating a lot of combustible material in our jungles, which favors the speed of fire and complicates combat,” said Martínez Ortega.
He confirmed that the main cause of the forest fires is poaching, burning of garbage and farms, and burning cigarette butts being tossed to the ground.
He recognized the work carried out by the brigadistas who risk their lives to control the fires and that of the National Forestry personnel, headed by Uriel Castillo Carballo, maintains close communication with Civil Protection in order to be attentive to these fires.
He says more than 250 firefighters around the state continue to battle these flames, which have affected forest in the municipalities of Othón P. Blanco, Bacalar, Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Lázaro Cárdenas, Solidaridad, Puerto Morelos and other points in the northern area of Quintana Roo.
