A total of 2,890 calls for plant mass fires have been answered this year by the Meritorious Fire Department of the Republic of Panama (BCBRP), of which 1,312 have been registered in the month of March. They indicated that this figure reveals an increase of 316 cases compared to March 2022 and represents an average of 42 departures per day by the personnel responsible for extinguishing these burns.
Faced with this increase, the BCBRP indicated that although plant mass fires are typical of the dry season, they are causing damage to the environment and an additional effort to the staff, which is why they called on citizens to take preventive actions to prevent the further occurrence of such incidents.
“In the last month these emergencies have increased, which is causing concern, since the most recent have put the lives of people and structures at risk, and have even destroyed properties, for registering in areas close to neighborhoods and shopping centers,” they said.
They warned that the number and frequency of burning grasslands is also putting the firefighters’ response capacity to the limit, so it is urgent that citizens become aware and contribute by preventing plant mass fires.
Avoiding grass fires helps prevent situations that endanger the lives of people and their properties and contributes to preserving the environment.
Always remember:
• Avoid burning as a way of cleaning batches.
• Do not use fire to hunt animals,
• Report this type of practice to the authorities, which constitutes a crime.
