A Chiriquí Fire Ravages up to 25 Hectares on a Hill in Tierras Altas (Volcan)

A vegetation fire in Cerro La Florentina, in the district of Tierras Altas, Chiriquí province, left between 20 and 25 hectares affected, as reported this Monday, March 2, by the Panama Fire Department.  The fire was brought under control after more than 20 hours of intense work involving 37 units, who faced adverse conditions due to strong winds that complicated the operation.  According to the official report, the work was carried out in an inter-institutional manner, which allowed the fire to be extinguished and the risk of spreading to other nearby areas to be reduced.  However, authorities indicated that a new fire was detected in the northern part of the hill, so active surveillance and control measures are being maintained to prevent the flames from reigniting. 

The fire affected a large area of ​​vegetation, causing environmental impacts and risks for nearby communities, especially in hard-to-reach areas.  The Fire Department reiterated its call to the public to avoid burning grasslands and waste, as these practices are often one of the main causes of forest fires during the dry season.  They also reminded the public that in case of any emergency or fire report, they can call 103 to activate a timely response from emergency teams.  Authorities are maintaining constant monitoring in the area to ensure the incident remains under control and to prevent further incidents.