Anyone got a spare helicopter?

Cuesta Colorada Ixmiquilpan Hidalgo — At least six active wildfires are burning in Hidalgo, according to a report by La Silla Rota, fires that have affected hundreds of hectares and also the civilian population, including the fire that started in Nicolás Flores and has spread to Cuesta Colorada, Ixmiquilpan.

Mexico City
Smoke just north of Ciudad de México, photo ©2024 Brian Okarski

From the plenary session of the local Congress, deputy Osiris Leines Medécido made a call to support fire victims.

Fires just north of Mexico City have evacuated residents and threatened towns.

Mexico fires -- Cuesta Colorada Ixmiquilpan Hidalgo north of Mexico City.
Mexico fires — Cuesta Colorada Ixmiquilpan Hidalgo north of Mexico City.

Osiris Leines Medécido talked about the fires in Hidalgo territory, and he emphasized the one that started in Nicolás Flores and has spread to  Ixmiquilpan.

Fires in the community called Cuesta Colorada Ixmiquilpan Hidalgo
Fires in the community called Cuesta Colorada Ixmiquilpan Hidalgo

“In Cuesta Colorada, people have organized themselves to be able to fight this fire, the entire population, the delegates, those who represent spas and citizens have all organized, but the intervention of the authorities at the different levels of government is required; the situation requires professionals in the subject, with the appropriate tools and instruments,” he said.

Smoke just north of Ciudad de México, photo ©2024 Brian Okarski
Smoke just north of Ciudad de México, photo ©2024 Brian Okarski

Osiris Leines extended the request of his colleague Aarón Charrez Paloma,  substitute local deputy for the District of Ixmiquilpan, to provide support for the people affected by this fire in the Mezquital Valley.

CuestaColorado Ixmiquilpan Hidalgo
facebook post about fires at Cuesta
Colorado Ixmiquilpan Hidalgo

The Associated Press reported that wildfires were burning in nearly half of Mexico’s drought-stricken states yesterday, fueled by strong winds; the National Forestry Commission reported 58 active fires in 15 states, including in protected nature reserves in Morelos, Veracruz, and Mexico states.

Strong winds and high temps have blocked the efforts of local volunteers to fight the fire
Strong winds and high temps have blocked the efforts of local volunteers to fight the fire

Mexico News Daily reported earlier this month that five residents of the town of San Lucas Quiaviní died while trying to fight a forest fire that threatened their village in the eastern section of the Central Valleys region of the state of Oaxaca, some 40 kilometers from the state capital of Oaxaca City. Villagers had tried to contain the fire but it quickly spread and the five men were overwhelmed by the fire.

In front of my father's house
“In front of my father’s house” Tuesday afternoon

State authorities were alerted as soon as the fire was spotted, but villagers say officials were slow to react.

The Oaxaca state government did not issue an emergency assistance plan until after the fatalities were reported, two days after they were alerted to the fire. By then, San Lucas Quiaviní had issued a call to neighboring municipalities to help combat the blaze.

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4 thoughts on “Anyone got a spare helicopter?”

  1. Good morning everybody.
    Thanks for noticing and making visible the fires in Mexico.
    I am not sure if, like everywhere else, what fire needs in Mexico, is more helicopters.
    Thanks again.
    José Luis Duce.

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    1. Buenas tardes, José, I added a couple photos from Brian Okarski, shot just north of Mexico City. Also got this note from NIFC today. He did check, though, and he responded:

      Kelly, I received your email last week regarding potential assistance from the U.S. to Mexico. After discussing with the National Interagency Coordination Center I was able to confirm that currently there is no assistance nor discussions of assistance to Mexico.

      Marshall Thompson
      Deputy Division Chief, External Affairs
      BLM Fire, National Interagency Fire Center
      Office: (208)387-5458

      =====================================
      You will have to contact your state/fed agencies and get a federal agency there (SEMARNAT or CONAFOR?) to request assistance from NIFC — the national fire center. They can’t just fly down there and say “We’re here to help.” Officials in Mexico did this in 1998 and got a LOT of help, but you have to get an agreement in place …

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