Michoacán Reduces Forest Fire Impact by Over 60%, Cites Immediate Response
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Michoacán reduced its forest fire affected area by over 60% in the first half of 2026 compared to the previous year.
- Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla attributed this success to immediate and coordinated intervention.
- The state deployed 1,020 firefighters and two helicopters, supported by indigenous communities.
Michoacán has achieved a significant reduction in forest fire impact, with the affected area decreasing by over 60% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla reported that 13,000 hectares were affected this year, a substantial decrease from the over 35,000 hectares impacted last year.
Governor Ramírez Bedolla highlighted that this achievement is a direct result of immediate and coordinated responses. "The prompt response and deployment allowed us to protect thousands of hectares of our forests," he stated. He emphasized that this success stems from resource investment and, more importantly, the human effort of those who risk their lives fighting fires.
During the dry season, the state government activated an operation involving 102 brigades and 1,200 highly trained forest firefighters. Two helicopters equipped with water buckets played a crucial role in promptly combating 20 priority fires in hard-to-reach areas. From January 1 to June 30, a total of 490 fires were registered and effectively managed to prevent widespread propagation.
The governor also recognized the vital contribution of indigenous communities, whose local knowledge and commitment to their forests were fundamental. He further praised the collaborative work and close coordination between state and federal institutions, which led to these positive results for the people of Michoacán.
The prompt response and deployment allowed us to protect thousands of hectares of our forests.
Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.