Mexico City, Mexico — There are currently 33 forest fires burning across the country as of Thursday. Mexico’s National Forestry Commission (Conafor), along with National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC), said in a press conference that more than 1,500 forest fire fighters are battling those burning blazes.
One of Mexico’s most recent, a 95-plus-hectare blaze in Tepoztlán, Morelos, is among 10 under constant surveillance due to its growing size and relation to a populated area.
Laura Velázquez Alzúa, head of CNPC (Coordinadora Nacional de Protección Civil), explained that at last count, 1,513 fire fighters were combating those 33 fires that so far, have consumed 4,278 hectares.
She said that 10 helicopters are also being used in the high-risk forest fires, which she detailed, are currently in La Concordia in Chiapas, Castaños in Coahuila, Ocampo, Durango, Mexquitic de Carmona in San Luis Potosí, Gómez Farías in Tamaulipas, Zacatecas, Durango, Concepción del Oro, Zacatecas, Tepoztlán, Morelos and Metlatónoc, Guerrero.
Among the 10 fires under surveillance, one is La Concordia, Chiapas that has already consumed 1,300 hectares. Another fire in Castaños, Coahuila has destroyed 470 hectares, while a third, in Ocampo, Durango has burned 351 hectares.
The fire in Tepoztlán, Velázquez explained, is one of at least three burning in a Natural Protected Area. She said that in less than 24 hours, that particular fire has grown from 75 hectares to 95. The last update on the fire was that is was 60 percent controlled and 30 percent liquidated.
A young man, who is believed to have intentionally set that fire, was arrested after forest fire fighters located him screaming in the bush in protest to them putting out the fire.
