Mazatlán landfill fire persists after six days; city asserts right to operate

Firefighters and volunteers continue battling a blaze at the Mazatlán municipal landfill in Sinaloa, which has been burning for six days. Despite significant progress, with control reaching 95%, active hotspots persist, requiring the use of heavy machinery and the dedication of over 120 individuals. The effort involves personnel from public and private sectors, alongside volunteers and veteran firefighters who recently joined the operation. Interim Mayor Minerva Osuna Zavala is actively supervising the work to ensure the fire is fully extinguished and does not reignite. The fire, which started in the ejido Urías area, has been prolonged by winds and the accumulated materials within the landfill. Efforts are focused on preventing the spread of the fire to nearby residential areas and mitigating environmental contamination. Adding a layer of complexity, the landfill was previously closed by the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection (Profepa). However, the Mazatlán city council demonstrated a valid federal court injunction allowing continued operation of the landfill. Osuna Zavala confirmed that the legal amparo is active, permitting the landfill's use once the fire is completely controlled. The city council expressed surprise at Profepa's closure during the active firefighting operations, citing alleged environmental norm violations.

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The amparo that was obtained last month is in effect, so we are going to continue using it, once the fire is completely controlled.