Tulum, Q.R. — Authorities in the municipality of Tulum continue to battle a fire that now covers more than two hectares. The fire started late Friday in a jungle area several kilometers west of the town of Tulum.
After days of exhaustive fighting, heavy machinery was finally brought in to help create a fire break to control the spread. Firemen are hoping to catch a break and stop the fire from expanding even more.
Benjamín Heredia Monforte, the Director of the Tulum Fire Department, said Monday night a four-meter wide fire break was made along the length of the forest fire to help control flames, since sporadic wind gusts have worked against firemen trying to extinguish the fire.
Firemen from the Tulum fire department have spent nearly four days battling the spreading wildfire that is believed started by an intentional land burn that became out of control.
The fire was reported late Friday in the vicinity of the Marites area of the municipality and quickly grew into a forest fire. Monforte said that with the fire break, they expect the fire to be controlled by Tuesday afternoon so it can be completely extinguished with continued monitoring into Wednesday.
He said to date, the fire has consumed approximately two hectares of lowland jungle and undergrowth.
Normally the municipalities have a brigade from Conafor, the National Forest Commission (Comisión Nacional Forestal), however, all available forest fire fighters are busy battling fires in other parts of the country.
As of May 28, Conafor reported 127 active forest fires in 24 states across Mexico, and of these, 32 are in Protected Natural Areas. To put out the flames, 3,459 fighters and 10 aircraft have been deployed to carry out water discharges and transfer personnel.
