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Training Offered in Liberia to Prevent
Forest Fires
Training
Offered in Liberia to Prevent Forest Fires
(InfoWebPress) – As part of their
preparation to deal with forest fires,
firefighting brigades recently took part in
a second exercise conducted at the
Horizontes Forest Experimental Station in
Liberia.
These exercises seek to integrated forest
fire brigades and contribute to the
protection of natural resources in
vulnerable areas such as Guanacaste.
The three-day training was attended by
professionals with the National Firefighters
Corps, the Police Force and the Ministry of
the Environment, among others, who shared
their abilities and knowledge. Each brigade
has its own personal protection equipment,
equipment and tools to engage in various
drills.
During the dry season, the risk of forest
fires in protected areas and urban region
brush grows, due to high summer temperatures
and, in many cases, because of lit cigarette
butts thrown at the side of roads. In other
cases, the fires are set intentionally.
During this time of the year, firefighter
units respond to some 42 daily fires in
empty lots, for a total of 1,092 so far this
year. In 2008, officials responded to some
4,918 fires of this kind, plus 2,109 at
trash-dumping sites.
Regarding forest fires, in 2008 there were
51 events of this kind, for a total affected
area of 23,416 hectares. The year before the
damage was bigger, with 80 forest fires
taking place and 27,572 hectares being
burned — accounting for a 36 percent
reduction in the number of fires between
2007 and 2008.
The main regions affected by forest fires
last year included Guanacate, with exception
of Las Juntas de Abangares and Tilaran; the
Central Pacific; the Los Santos region; and
the North Huetar Region (Upala and Los
Chiles canton), where a drought extended the
dry season in that Nicaragua border region.
Right now, Costa Rica has 912 firefighters
to deal with forest fires.
The Firefighters Corps director, Hector
Chaves Leon, asked citizens to avoid making
fires for burning grassland or trash, as
they could lead to large forest fires that
could jeopardize people’s lives.
Thanks to prevention actions that have been
taken place recently, the area and
ecosystems affected by forest fires have
been reduced in the past few years.
Together with the Ministry of the
Environment and other institutions that are
part of the National Forest Fire Commission
(CONIFOR), the National Insurance Institute
(INS) is currently implementing a campaign
to inform the public about ways to prevent
forest fires. In addition to distributing
educational materials, the campaign also
offers talks at schools and communities.
Additionally, the firefighting stations
located in Guanacaste, the Southern Zone and
others in high-risk areas have been provided
with special equipment and new technologies
to combat forest fires.
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