Recent downpours aided firefighters in extinguishing forest fires across seven Mexican states, though 37 active fires remain at mid‐day.
National Forestry Commission (Conafor) officials reported on June 5, 2025, that intense rainfall over the past 48 hours has significantly aided efforts to extinguish active forest fires in at least seven Mexican states. As of 11:00 AM Wednesday, authorities confirmed that 37 wildfires continued to burn in remote or rugged terrain—but cooler, wetter conditions have slowed their spread and facilitated fire‐line construction.
According to Conafor spokesperson Sofía Rivas, crews dispatched to the hardest‐hit areas—primarily in Oaxaca, Michoacán, Nayarit, Jalisco, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Veracruz—have reported up to a 60 percent reduction in fire intensity due to both rain saturation and lower temperatures. “We are grateful for this timely weather shift,” Rivas said. “Helicopters that were shuttling water sorties all night have returned to base with crews showing significant progress on containment lines.”
In Jalisco, firefighters battled several concurrent blazes in the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere Reserve. Before the rains arrived, crews relied on steep‐terrain hand lines and limited aerial water drops because of gusty winds. By Tuesday afternoon, however, persistent showers dampened canopy fuels, allowing ground crews to extend control lines rapidly. “Yesterday, smoke columns rose hundreds of meters. Today, we see just low smoldering spots,” said Conafor engineer Jorge Martínez, who leads a brigade of 45 personnel in the region.
Michoacán officials echoed similar improvements. The municipality of Arteaga, which had five simultaneous outbreaks, saw all fires shift from “out of control” to “under control” status by 8:00 AM Wednesday. Authorities credited overnight precipitation of 10–15 millimeters for dramatically reducing spot fires and limiting flame heights. “This has been a turning point,” remarked local fire chief Daniela Cruz. “When the rain fell, it knocked down crown fires and gave our crews a chance to extinguish hotspots.”
Still, Conafor warned that a number of fires remain active in Coahuila and Chihuahua, where cloud cover was patchy and rainfall minimal. There, lightning‐ignited blazes continue to burn near remote grazing lands, hampering direct access. “We anticipate further thunderstorms later this week, but wind shifts could spread fire fronts if crews don’t remain vigilant,” said regional coordinator Enrique Sandoval. To mitigate that risk, he added, additional ground crews and aerial support will be pre‐positioned to strike new hotspots immediately.
At the national level, Conafor reported that—despite gains in the seven states—37 fires tally nearly 12,500 hectares of burned forest (including grasslands and shrubland). Of that figure, Oaxaca accounts for 4,200 hectares, inflicting major environmental impacts on endangered pine‐oak ecosystems. Wildlife agencies are assessing long‐term consequences for local fauna, such as the Mexican grey wolf reintroduction sites. “Even though the rain helped, these fires still represent major habitat loss,” noted Dr. Alicia López, a wildlife biologist at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Conafor has allocated MXN 45 million this season for emergency response and reforestation. Officials emphasized that preventive efforts—public notices on fire bans, controlled burns, and community‐led fire brigades—remain essential to reducing ignition sources. “Climate change is lengthening wildfire seasons and intensifying storms. We must adapt practices accordingly,” agency director Fernanda Aguilar emphasized. She urged local governments to support ongoing reforestation projects once fires are fully contained.
For now, Conafor teams continue to monitor residual hotspots via infrared scans and ground patrols. Fire managers expect to downgrade all active fires to “controlled” status by Friday—provided no new lightning strikes spark fresh outbreaks. Meanwhile, forestry and ecological stakeholders plan a joint assessment of damage, set to begin on June 10, to guide replanting strategies and habitat restoration in the affected regions.
