Environment Ministry battles forest fire in Sierra de Bahoruco amid extreme drought

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources reported that an intensive operation is underway to contain a forest fire in the El Codo sector of the Sierra de Bahoruco National Park, one of the country’s most important protected areas.

Forest firefighters from the National Fire Management Program have been working continuously since yesterday to control the blaze. However, prolonged drought conditions and strong winds have intensified the fire’s spread, making suppression efforts more difficult.

Given the severity of the situation, President Luis Abinader authorized full government support for emergency response operations. As part of this effort, the Ministry of Defense and the Air Force have provided logistical and operational resources, including the deployment of two aircraft to transport personnel and equipment to the affected zone.

Authorities continue to mobilize all available firefighting units while coordinating additional support to strengthen ground operations. The area remains under constant monitoring as teams assess the extent of the impact, although access challenges and fire behavior have complicated evaluations.

An investigation is also underway to determine the cause of the fire, with natural factors not ruled out due to the remote location and extreme dryness in the region. Firefighters remain focused on containing the flames, protecting the Sierra de Bahoruco ecosystem, and ensuring the safety of all response personnel.