Cuba, 136 forest fires in just over two months

HAVANA, Cuba, Apr 1 (ACN) Just from January 1 to March 3, 136 forest fires occurred in the country that damaged 813.14 hectares, reported in Havana the Cuban Forest Rangers Corps (CGC by its Spanish acronym), of the Ministry of Interior.

A special report by its Fire Management Department reported that they broke out in most of the nation's provinces and in the special municipality of the Isle of Youth, and clarified that there were no fires in Havana or Camagüey.

The list of deflagrations was headed by Pinar del Rio, with 30 and 479.00, Isle of Youth with 23 and 813.14, and Cienfuegos with 19 and 46.00 cases and hectares, respectively, according to preliminary figures offered exclusively to the Cuban News Agency.

Only in these three territories there are 72 such fires in an area of 581.70 hectares, equivalent to 68 % of the total number of active and controlled fires in Pinar del Rio, which include the species of Macurije, Almacigo, Guasima, and Jobo.

CGC has been undertaking for years the Forest Fire Protection Campaign, which constitutes a national system in charge of preventing and facing its outbreak in the vegetation and forests, from January to May, because in June the cyclonic season begins.

Its actions have an organizational character, of preparation, practical and communicational exercises together with groups of the central administration of the State, political, mass and social organizations, with the leading role of the people.

In general, the causes are due to drought, the accumulation of combustible material, the impact of other meteorological phenomena, climate change and negligence in fire management, which forces us to be proactive and take all necessary measures
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However, violations of safety regulations and illegalities represent 95 % of the fires, mainly due to burning for various purposes, irresponsible smokers and passers-by, the circulation of vehicles with technical defects (without spark killers), poachers and fishermen, and illegal beehive castrators.