MIAMI, United States. — The large-scale forest fire that spreads to the center-south of the province of Holguín has affected more than 3,000 hectares of forests, the newspaper reported today. Granma.
Pine trees, coffee trees and grasslands have been consumed by the llamas, which has also affected the native fauna of La Mensura National Park.
However, the official media assures that in the next few hours the incident —which broke out over 12 days— “could be brought under control in the next few hours, as a result of the notable progress in the actions to contain the flames, in areas adjacent to the Santiago municipalities of Mella and San Luis”.
José Ramón Monteagudo Ruiz, president of the Provincial Defense Council in Santiago de Cuba, explained to the state press that there is “a wide trail opened by bulldozers on the limits of these territories, which is now preceded by a humid barrier with the vegetation itself of the place”, which would guarantee the extinction of the fire.
In that sense, Granma It refers that the troops in charge of the work against the fire have developed “an intense irrigation with water from the specialized cars of the Fire Department and pipes of organizations.”
However, the authorities called not to stop the offensive against the fire, which could have a rebound due to the conditions of the terrain, the prolonged drought and strong winds in the zone.
The newspaper also highlighted the work of hundreds of workers from the Ranger Corps, from the Forestry and Agricultural companies, and from Flora and Fauna, to save the largest possible plantations in Holguin territory.
During the past year, Cuba registered 284 forest fires that damaged more than 1,800 hectares of forests, according to data from the Ranger Corps.
It is estimated that 90% of these fires were the result of unauthorized burning of grass or sugarcane, the use of vehicles without spark arrestor netting, and the activity of poachers.
