Holbox Island Fire Extinguished After 9 Days

CANCÚN, QRoo — The Quintana Roo State Civil Protection Coordination (Coeproc) reported that a forest fire, which consumed more than 500 hectares northwest of Holbox Island, has been completely extinguished after being active for nine days.

The blaze, located 20 kilometers northwest of the island in an area known as Punta Mosquito, began on August 22 and initially affected approximately 150 hectares. According to the state Civil Protection coordinator, Guillermo Núñez, the fire became the only one reported outside the official forest fire season and required the intervention of all three levels of government.

Eighty personnel from the Secretary of the Navy (Semar), the state government, the municipal government, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), and the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) were deployed to combat the fire. Crews implemented firefighting techniques on the ground, while aerial support was provided by a Bell 407 helicopter equipped with a helibucket, capable of discharging up to 2,500 liters of water to mitigate the advance of the flames.

The firefighting efforts also involved three vehicles—one from Civil Protection—four boats, the opening of firebreaks to contain the ignition, and the application of backfires. Patrol, surveillance, and reconnaissance flights were conducted continuously.

The island is situated northeast of the Yum Balam Flora and Fauna Protection Area, a significant natural protected area spanning just over 154,000 hectares. The area is notable for its diversity of ecosystems, including jungles, mangroves, dunes, and lagoons. Its fauna includes loggerhead and hawksbill sea turtles, American and swamp crocodiles, flamingos, jabiru storks, roseate spoonbills, spider monkeys, mantled howler monkeys, northern tamanduas, jaguars, pumas, ocelots, margays, manatees, and tapirs.

As of Sunday, despite the fire being fully controlled, Conafor personnel conducted an aerial survey of the zone to guarantee there were no remaining points of risk and to prevent any potential reactivation.

The official 2025 fire season concluded in the month of June; since that time, only heat point monitoring has been conducted as a preventive measure.