Cancun, Q.R. — Cancun firefighters continued their battle of a massive Sunday dump fire into Monday. Firemen battled the more than one hectare fire into the night, managing to contain 70 percent of it by Monday morning.
The fire was being fought at an old site in SM 241 that was once used by both Cancun and Isla Mujeres. Emergency teams from Quintana Roo State Civil Protection along with firemen from Cancun and Isla Mujeres spent a majority of Monday fully extinguishing the blaze.
Antonio de Jesús Riveroll Ribbon, the Director of Cancun Civil Protection, said now that the fire has been controlled, they will spend Tuesday making sure there are no flareups.
“Now comes the most important part which is the removal and cooling of the area, so that it doesn’t flare up again in the following hours or tomorrow,” he said.
Authorities have not speculated on how the fire began at the former city landfill. It was reported Sunday afternoon. By Monday morning, approximately one hectare had been consumed.
Civil Protection and Cancun Firemen explained “a fire was reported burning Sunday afternoon at the old Cancun dump, affecting approximately one hectare of waste. Response protocols were immediately activated and intensive work was carried out to control and extinguish the fire, given the complex characteristics of the terrain and the burning material.
“Cancun Firefighters, Cancun Civil Protection and Isla Mujeres Civil Protection and Firefighters are coordinating efforts on site. The situation remains under constant monitoring to this day, and information is being updated as the operation progresses.
Officials have recommended the public not approach the area due to health risks of the burning garbage. “It’s a regrettable event because of all the pollution it generates,” he said. More than a dozen firefighters remain at the site.
