Holbox, Q.R. — More than 400 hectares of island brush burned in a wildfire that has been officially extinguished. On Sunday, the municipal head of Lázaro Cárdenas, Josue Nivardo Mena Villanueva, reported on the Holbox blaze.
In a statement, he said after six days of fighting, the island’s forest fire is officially out. More than 80 forest firefighters battled the blaze that left over 400 hectares of natural area scorched.
“After six days of hard work, the forest fire in the inlet of Holbox has been completely extinguished thanks to the collaboration of agencies from all levels of government and the leadership of Mayor Josue Nivardo Mena Villanueva.
“With more than 400 hectares affected, aerial water discharges and intensive ground work were implemented. Although it is now 100 percent under control, preventive patrols will continue to ensure the fire does not flare up again,” Mena Villanueva said.
According to State Civil Protection Director General Guillermo Núñez Leal, the fire started August 22 but was not attended to until August 25 when 82 firefighters began to fight flames.
“Three vehicles, one Civil Protection vehicle, four boats and a Bell 407 helicopter” were used to combat the fire he said.
The fire was first detected in La Ensenada within the Yum Balam Reserve approximately 20 kilometers northwest of the town of Holbox. Authorities have not provided a cause for the island’s fire.
