The authorities of Nuevo León have called on the population to avoid controlled burns, bonfires, and throwing cigarette butts in natural areas, including grasslands and forests. Erik Cavazos, director of Civil Protection, announced that a fire ban will soon be established by a decree from the Ministry of the Environment to prevent fires.
In an upcoming announcement, the Contingency Plan aimed at preventing forest fires will be presented, as well as the introduction of new equipment to combat these disasters. In addition to the mentioned recommendations, citizens are urged not to litter in natural spaces and to pick up waste when visiting these areas, a request also directed towards hikers.
Regarding the damage caused by previous fires, Cavazos recalled the impact of a fire that occurred in 2021 which destroyed 32,000 hectares of forest, with an estimated recovery time of over 80 years due to soil erosion. The director of Civil Protection stressed the importance of permanent prevention campaigns, such as those led by Evita Fuegos, which disseminate recommendations in schools and universities.
According to Cavazos, high-risk areas have been identified, such as the municipalities of Aramberri, Galeana, Zaragoza, Iturbide, Linares, Montemorelos, Rayones, the Sierra de Santa Catarina, and Santiago, which have endemic flora. Among the possible causes of fires are highlighted the burning of garbage at 46%, followed by bonfires at 42%, and smokers at 12%.
So far in the fire season in Nuevo León, a clean record has been maintained thanks to the coordination of Civil Protection through the Phoenix Brigade. This coordination has been essential to avoid forest fires during January. Erik Cavazos emphasized the importance of citizen collaboration to maintain this figure during the critical months of the season, which run from January to August.
