With the goal of boosting wildfire prevention and suppression, Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda is urging residents and producers in mountainous areas to take extra precautions as the risk rises this season, especially when visiting natural areas or driving along highways.
The governor emphasized that wildfires pose a serious threat to ecosystems, biodiversity, farming and livestock production, and community safety. She noted that most fires are caused by human negligence, making prevention a shared responsibility.
“Trash piled up in areas with thick, dry vegetation, combined with high temperatures, is a major cause of wildfires. So if you’re visiting the Sierra de Juárez, San Pedro Mártir, Laguna Hanson, or even just driving through, please don’t litter or toss cigarette butts,” she said.
The governor added that these fires hit local residents and producers the hardest, urging them to have a prevention plan in place at home and at work, and to follow all official guidance.
Through the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER BC), the state has signed a collaboration agreement with the National Forestry Commission to hire five rural brigades. These teams will be stationed in El Hongo, Santa Verónica, Carmen Serdán, El Porvenir (in Ensenada), and Kiliwas (in Valle de la Trinidad), where they will carry out fire prevention and control efforts.
SADER BC Secretary Mónica Vargas Núñez said the agency’s forestry division has also begun rolling out prevention tips aimed at producers and communities in rural production zones.
Key prevention measures include:
- Avoiding campfires in unauthorized areas
- Fully extinguishing any campfire with water and soil
- Never tossing lit cigarette butts in natural areas or along roads
- Refraining from burning trash, agricultural waste, or grasslands without supervision or proper permits
Vargas Núñez also recommended keeping properties clear of dry vegetation that could act as fuel, reporting any sign of fire to authorities immediately, avoiding the use of machinery or tools that could generate sparks in dry vegetation zones during midday, and respecting all restrictions and alerts issued by officials.
Meanwhile, Governor Marina del Pilar confirmed that the State Civil Protection Coordination (CEPC), led by Salvador Cervantes Hernández, is maintaining a round-the-clock operational deployment in coordination with federal, state, and municipal agencies to ensure a fast, effective, and unified response to any blaze.
To further strengthen firefighting capacity, the governor announced that a specialized helicopter will be available this season. The aircraft will be able to drop water from the air and support ground brigades in rugged, hard-to-reach areas, helping prevent wildfires from escalating into greater dangers for Baja California families.
Finally, Governor Marina del Pilar encouraged the public to stay informed through official channels and to report any incidents by calling the emergency number 9-1-1.
