Combined forces of the Ranger Corps, companies and entities of Manuel Tames work to extinguish the fire in a pasture area in the place known as El Naranjal, in the community Ciro Frías, according to the radio reporter in that municipality, Adán Curtain.
To date six outbreaks involving a total of 18 hectares of pastureland are reported on fire, with severe damage to flora and fauna, and other environmental resources, Diorges Pérez Soria, inspector of the Ranger Corps present in the area, told the press.
The extinguishing of the fire, the official said, is complicated by the intricacy of the place, the amount of branches and dry grass as a result of the intense drought of recent months that works as combustible material and strong winds characteristic of this time of year.
Given this situation, the local reporter said that the main authorities of that municipality apply disaster reduction plans to events of this nature, to prevent their spread to other areas.
Historically, the main causes of forest fires in Guantanamo are related to the negligent attitude of people, the burning of land without adopting security measures, the transit of vehicles and agricultural machinery without spark arresters and irresponsible smokers who throw burning butts.
The prevention and fight against fires is a priority in this province that has a forest rate of 50.4 percent, the largest in Cuba, with several protected areas and parks that treasure the largest biodiversity in the Caribbean.