Mexico records 33 active forest fires: Conafor

There are also 1,513 people fighting the accidents and 4,278 hectares affected, said Laura Velázquez Alzúa, national coordinator of Civil Protection.

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CIUDAD DE MÉXICO, 24MARZO2022.- Andrés
CIUDAD DE MÉXICO, 24MARZO2022.- Andrés Manuel López Obrador, presidente de México, encabezó la conferencia de prensa en que se presentó el informe de seguridad correspondiente al mes de marzo. Los ponentes fueron: Ricardo Mejía Berdeja, subsecretario de Seguridad Pública; Laurencio Velázquez Alzúa, coordinadora nacional de Protección Civil; Luis Cresencio Sandoval, secretario de la Defensa Nacional, y Rafael Ojeda, secretario de Marina. Entre los temas destacados fueron la detención de implicados en casos como El ataque a la familia Lebarón, el asesinato del dueño de Mamitas Beach Club y el asesinato del alcalde de Agüililla por mencionar algunos, por otro lado se abordó la cuestión de incendios forestales y los decomisos que tanto SEDENA y Marina han realizado. FOTO: GALO CAÑAS/CUARTOSCURO.COM

On Thursday, March 22, the weekly report of the Security Cabinet belonging to the National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC) was carried out, in which Secretary Laura Velázquez Alzúa reported on the conditions in which the fires are in the Mexican territory.

He confirmed that the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) is aware of 33 forest fires that are currently active, adding 1,513 people from different instances fighting accidents and approximately 4,278 hectares affected, in addition to 10 helicopters operating to deal with major fires risk: 1 in Coahuila, 1 in Hidalgo, 2 in Morelos and 6 in Jalisco.

Of the 33 active fires recorded, 10 are under strict surveillance by CONAFOR, the CNPC, the Secretary of National Defense (SEDENA), the Secretariat of the Navy (SEMAR) and the National Guard, because they have caused the greatest damage.

Among them are Castaños, Coahuila with 470 hectares affected so far, Ocampo in Durango with 351, Mexquitic de Carmona in San Luis Potosí with 300 hectares, Gómez Farías in Tamaulipas with also 300 hectares of damage and Zacatecas, Zacatecas, in which they have been affected also 300 hectares.

Incendios Forestales March 2022
The coordinator indicated that Conafor registers 33 active fires, of which 10 have received special attention as they have damaged the most hectares of land (Photo: Screenshot/Government of Mexico)

However, the fire with the largest area hit is that of La Concordia, whose damage has exceeded 1,000 hectares, reaching 1,300, with a control percentage of 80%, a liquidation of 50% and in which 44 people have been working to put out the flames.

These 10 most dangerous fires for both fauna and flora and civilians began just two weeks ago, between Wednesday 9 and Wednesday 23 March. So far, only Castaños and Zacatecas have been controlled 100%. None have been 100% liquidated.

The Civil Protection Coordinator reported that on Tuesday, March 22, at approximately 4 in the morning, a forest fire broke out in an area called “El Tepozteco” in the state of Morelos, to one kilometer from the community of Tierra Blanca in Los Corredores.

He assured that state and municipal authorities are already carrying out actions for its control and subsequent liquidation with the help of 52 vehicles, 2 helicopters deployed in the area and 541 brigade and technicians, including 74 SEDENA elements, 65 from the National Guard, 39 from the CONAFOR, as well as 80 volunteers accredited by CNPC, of whom Laura Velázquez recognized their work.

Cerro del Tepozteco, Tepoztlán
On March 22, a fire was reported in the area of “El Tepozteco” in Morelos. The coordinator of Civil Protection, Laura Velázquez Alzúa, said that it is already being addressed (Photo: Twitter/@PattCouto)

He commented that until yesterday 95 affected hectares were identified, however, he warned that the counts will be made again of those that are added at night to determine the progress of fire control. So far we have 60% control and 30% liquidation.

He also communicated the details of the most recent forest fire, which took place yesterday, Wednesday, March 23, in the municipality of Zapopan, Jalisco. This was reported at 13:23 hours in the Bajío de Milpillas estate, Natural Protected Area La Primavera Forest. Because action was taken quickly, at 11 pm 100% control had already been reported.

In the coming days, the coordinator said, there will be information on the progress of the liquidation of the same.

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