Port of Chiquilá, Q.R. — Firefighters were seen battling a large brush fire near the Port of Chiquilá Wednesday. The afternoon brush fire reportedly came within one kilometer of the town of Chiquilá.
The extremely dry vegetation created a thick column of smoke that could be seen for kilometers. Motorists using the Kantunilkín to Chiquilá highway alerted authorities to the fire.
Municipal Lázaro Cárdenas firemen from the town of Kantunilkín arrived at the site of the burning brush. Two trucks and six firemen worked most of the afternoon to extinguish the quickly moving blaze.
Winds helped fan flames, which moved within close proximity to the town of Chiquilá. The fire is believed to have started around 4:00 p.m. in grassland near the El Retiro ranch.
Fire Chief Gaspar Cauich Iuit reported that after receiving the emergency call, an immediate response protocol was activated.
“Two rapid attack units and a contingent of six elite firefighters departed for the affected area to try to stop the advancement of the flames which was driven by shifting gusts of winds,” he reported.
He said the flames were heading dangerously close to the nearby gas station and the town.
Local residents joined the firefighting efforts with buckets of water to prevent the fire from reaching homes and the nearby gas station. Firemen continued their forest fire fighting battle late into Wednesday evening.
