Mexico authorities fight forest fire in northern state
Mexico authorities fight forest fire in northern state
24 March 2008
published by news.xinhuanet.com
Mexico — Mexican authorities are fighting a major forest fire in Santiago, a town in the northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon, with eight helicopters and earthmovers, which are being used to create firewalls, the National Forest Fire Center said Sunday.
The helicopters, which belong to the state’s Civil Protection Authority, the Defense Ministry, and governments of neighboring states Coahuila and San Luis Potosi, are spraying water and chemical fire retardants.
There are yet to be any reports of casualties, the fire center said.
The authorities said the fire has affected an area covering 3,600 hectares, of which 3,060 hectares are bush and shrubbery and 540 hectares are mature pine or holm oak trees.
