Wildfire ‘Jas’ 80% Contained as Crews Battle Blaze in Manatee Sanctuary Near Xcalak

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — Firefighters have achieved 80% containment of the wildfire dubbed “Jas,” which has scorched an estimated 356 hectares in the Manatee Sanctuary, a fragile ecological reserve near the coastal community of Xcalak in southern Quintana Roo.

The Quintana Roo State Fire Management Center, in coordination with the State Incident Management Team, reported that the blaze is located about 15 kilometers northwest of Xcalak, within the municipality of Othón P. Blanco. The fire has primarily consumed grasslands and medium semi-evergreen forest.

As of Thursday, crews had also reached 65% liquidation of the fire, meaning the flames are largely extinguished within the containment lines. The area is a high priority for environmental authorities because it lies inside the Manatee Sanctuary State Reserve, a highly sensitive ecosystem.

A total of 79 operational personnel from the Mexican Navy, the Mexican Army, the state Ecology and Environment Department, the State Civil Protection Coordination, and the National Forestry Commission are working together on suppression strategies both from the air and on the ground.

Air operations have been critical, with a Mexican Air Force MI-1720 helicopter used to deploy National Forestry Commission personnel. To speed up logistics and reduce firefighter fatigue, a second helipad was set up near the active fire front, allowing faster and safer access.

On the ground, five official brigades split the fire line into two tactical flanks. They are manually cutting firebreaks and performing dry liquidation to stop the fire’s advance before high temperatures and wind gusts worsen conditions.