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Massive forest fire sees more than 1,600 evacuated from Baja California homes

Ensenada, Baja California — More than 1,600 people have been evacuated after three were killed in uncontrollable wild forest fires that continue to burn in the Mexican state of Baja California.

La Comisión Nacional Forestal (Conafor), the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (Sedena) and personnel from the federal arm of Protección Civil made the call to evacuate 1,645 people from their homes, reported David León, el coordinador nacional de Protección Civil (CNPC).

He says the most affected areas so far have been Tecate, where wild forest fires have consumed around 1,250 hectares and in Ensenada, where about 5,000 hectares have been destroyed. He explained that those evacuated have been taken to three temporary shelters.

So far, 328 homes have been affected by the flames, he noted adding that in Ensenada, the fires are only 25 percent under control. Approximately 176 firefighters from the National Forestry Commission (Conafor), Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) and federal and municipal Civil Protection continue to work battling the massive blaze that has killed three and left four injured.