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In recent days, the wave of forest fires that engulfed Mexico in March of this year is spreading at catastrophic rates. Over the course of three days, the number of active forest fires in the country doubled. According to the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) as of March 27, there were 120 active fires in 19 states of the country, which is the highest number this year. Out of the total number of fires, 24 were registered in protected natural areas. By 11 a.m. on March 28, another 42 new fire outbreaks occurred. In total, over 24,000 acres. of Mexican territory have been affected. The state of Mexico has suffered the most, with 24 active forest fires registered here. To extinguish the fires, 8,380 people and eight helicopters have been deployed. However, the firefighters' work is being complicated by weather conditions. For example, serious fires broke out in the high mountainous areas of Cumbres de Maltrata and Cofre de Perote in the state of Veracruz. For some time, they could not be brought under control as strong winds prevented the use of aviation for firefighting. The scale of these fires has led not only to the destruction of vegetation but also to human casualties. On March 27, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador reported the deaths of four people who were fighting the fire in the Santa María Masatla forest. And on March 28, the governor of the state of Mexico, Delphina Gómez Álvarez, announced on social media that another person—a member of a volunteer brigade fighting a fire in the municipality of Villa Guerrero—had died on Wednesday. Large-scale forest fires have resulted in the formation of huge smoke columns spreading over many miles and causing a strong smell of smoke and worsening air quality in various regions of the country. Local residents are shocked by what is happening, as the smoke and ash not only bring discomfort to their lives but also seriously affect their health. They report that the smell of smoke permeates through doors and windows, and even hanging clothes are saturated with smoke. María Fernanda from Atizapán de Zaragoza said, “My daughter's nose is bleeding, our eyes are watering, and we have dry noses.“ The National Meteorological Service is forecasting strong “northern“ winds in these areas, which could worsen the situation. The situation with wildfires worldwide was extensively discussed at the “Global Crisis. The Responsibility“ forum. We invite you to watch a fragment of this forum.
