Riviera Maya, Q.R. — Playa del Carmen firemen worked with Civil Protection to put out a highway brushfire Tuesday. Motorists traveling the federal 307 in Riviera Maya reported flames and, in some areas, whiteouts of thick smoke.
Emergency personnel located the burning brush roadside approximately 13 kilometers south of the city of Playa del Carmen.
Reports say the Tuesday morning fire started near Punta Venado around 11:00 a.m.
Drivers alerted 9-1-1 to the situation since strong winds were fanning flames that were quickly devouring more roadside brush.
Firetrucks from Playa del Carmen were at the site of the wildfire along with at least one Civil Protection vehicle.
Smoke from the fire, which quickly spread to over 200 meters in length, affected southbound traffic. Firefighters were on scene for several hours ensuring no flareups.
Authorities said that although the forest fire season has not officially begun, they are on alert due to the increase in temperatures and the dry conditions that have occurred earlier than expected.
By the time the fire was fully extinguished, approximately 2.4 hectares had burned. While an official cause of the fire remains unknown, authorities are asking the public not to throw cigarette butts out the window.
