Today Tuesday will be decisive to control the Forest fire, which since last Saturday has devoured an area of Pinares de Mayarí, Holguín province. Specialized forces are trying to stop their advance into the depths of the Mensura Piloto National Park, a protected area.
The journalist Emilio Rodríguez, who reports from the location, also pointed out the threat of the fire reaching the Pinalito area, rich in pine and coffee plantations, as well as the town where the Villa Pinares de Mayarí hotel is located.
Until now, the population close to the accident is safe, according to Rodríguez from Facebook. “Safe population, this is the most important thing here.”
They calculate that the incident has spread over an area of more than 300 hectares of that protected natural area, according to report of Latin Press (PL).
Rodríguez reported that on Monday afternoon the fire crossed one of the trails that protected the Loma de la Mensura, despite the efforts of the teams from the Rangers, Firefighters, the Mayarí Agroforestry Company and other agencies from the provinces. from Holguin and Santiago de Cuba.
Major Elio Ramírez, from the Civil Defense of that territory of the Holguin Turquino Plan, explained that the current characteristics of the area, where it has not rained for about four months, have led to the intensity of the flames due to the abundant organic plant material and the predominance of the species of pine cubensis.
The Mensura-Pilotos National Park occupies an area of more than 8,480 hectares, where endemic species of Cuban flora and fauna coexist.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel referred to the fire on Twitter, highlighting the work of those who are trying to stop the flames in an area affected by intense drought, like almost the entire nation.
The critical period for forest fires on the island runs from January 1 to May 31, coinciding with the driest season.
For this year, according to official estimates and by frequency indices, 320 to 445 forest fires are expected, which could damage 4,300 to 6,000 hectares in the period from January to next May.
