Puerto Morelos, Q.R. — The municipality of Puerto Morelos has created their forest fire prevention team for the 2025 season. On Friday, Mayor Blanca Merari Tziu Muñoz swore in the members of the Specialized Operational Committee that will handle fire disasters this year.
She also called on the various departments, primarily Civil Protection, to focus their efforts on strengthening the local culture on forest fire prevention.
The Mayor reported that in the case of her administration, they have been working to strengthen Civil Protection programs and institutions in order to be alert and prepared to respond to contingencies.
“Our 2024-2027 Municipal Development Plan emphasizes a culture of prevention in terms of civil protection and firefighting, and that’s why we’re here,” she said. “I urge everyone to be vigilant. It’s in our hands to do something for nature if an unfortunate event, like a forest fire, occurs.”
While the impact of forest fires was minimal in Puerto Morelos in 2024, in Quintana Roo, there was an upswing in the number of fires which went from 50 in 2023 to 64.
The areas affected grew disproportionately from 10,200 hectares to more than 91,000. She said that while the dry season favors fires, most can be avoided if we realize that human negligence is the main cause.
Irma Ávila Méndez, the Municipal Coordinator of Civil Protection, confirmed that the main cause of forest fires are deforestation for urban development, intentional actions, and human negligence. She said that the Committee will focus its efforts on prevention, dissemination of safety measures, and strengthening the culture of civil protection.
The Puerto Morelos 2025 Forest Fire Program establishes lines of action, focusing primarily on preventing the risk of this disruptive agent, she noted. She says she is urging the public to avoid burning and not to throw lit cigarette butts or glass containers on the side of the road.
