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Strong winds, dry conditions help generate 37 forest fires already this year

Mexico City, Mexico — The National Forestry Commission says 1,921 people are working to extinguish the 37 active forest fires currently burning around the country. Conafor says that to date, more than 10,900 hectares of land have been burned in 13 states.

Conafor (Comisión Nacional Forestal) reports that of the 37 forest fires, 12 are located in eight protected natural areas. The agency details that two of those are in the Cumbres de Monterrey National Park in Nuevo León and another in Coahuila in the municipality of Arteaga.

Three forest fires continue to burn in the Sierra de Tamaulipas Biosphere Reserve, in the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve, as well as in the El Nixticuil protected area in Zapopan, Jalisco. Other protected areas with registered fires include Lagunas de Zempoala National Park in Morelos, La Montaña Malinche National Park in Tlaxcala and two in La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas.

Conafor says that forest fires located in La Pinalosa and Arteaga in Coahuila and Ejido San José Boquillas in Nuevo León have taken priority since they have involved the burning of homes.

A National Guard helicopter along with five state government helicopters are being used to dose flames in those areas. Conafor says that high temperatures and little rain combined with strong winds have made ideal conditions for forest fires already this year.