The State Prosecutor's Office (FE) of Jalisco reported the detention of two men accused of causing forest fires in different areas of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (AMG). The University of Guadalajara (UDG) recently revealed that Jalisco ranks fifth nationally in land affected by fires so far this year, with 2,376.42 hectares damaged as of March 6, 2025. It is feared that the most critical period of the drought season is yet to come.
The first detainee, identified as Gerardo 'N', was arrested for starting a forest fire that burned at least eight hectares in Zapopan last Sunday, March 16. He was apprehended thanks to the report of a witness, carrying a pair of lighters. Gerardo 'N', 44 years old, was brought before the Public Ministry for the crime of ecocide.
The second detainee, Antonio 'N', was placed at the disposal of the judiciary for being the alleged responsible for another fire in the Bosque de la Primavera, in Tala, on March 13. He is under investigation for environmental crimes and is in justified preventive detention. Both detainees were processed following police protocols and their constitutional rights were guaranteed.
Authorities emphasized the importance of investigating environmental crimes and encouraged the population to report such actions to the emergency number 911.
