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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | October 2007 
Mexican Firefighters Helping in California Return to Mexico to Fight Blaze
 Associated Press
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| | Firefighters on a structure protection team watch flames from the Harris Ranch Fire burn towards the homes they are protecting in the far eastern part of San Diego County in the town of Jamul, California October 23, 2007. At least 16 wind-driven wildfires burned from the Mexican border to areas north of Los Angeles on Tuesday, forcing more than half a million people from their homes and claiming a second life on the third day of fire calamity. (Reuters/Fred Greaves) |
Tijuana, Mexico About 60 Mexican firefighters crossed the border to help fight the California wildfires then returned home as a separate blaze roared up on the Mexican side.
About 30 firefighters each from the Mexican cities of Tijuana and Tecate headed north Sunday when the wildfires started in San Diego County, said Capt. Marco Antonio Garambullo, Tecate's Fire Department director. One of the California blazes burned more than 200 buildings just north of Tecate.
The Mexican firefighters returned home on Monday, however, as flames kicked up south of the border as well, Garambullo said.
If we didn't have so much work, we would be over there helping them, Garambullo said, adding that soldiers had joined the firefighters battling the blaze near Tecate, Mexico, which scorched hills and consumed four cabins of the Rancho La Puerta, a luxury spa popular with San Diego tourists.
School has been suspended since Monday in Tijuana due to the smoke from the California fires, and the same hot Santa Ana winds that have caused firestorms north of the border threaten areas in Mexico as well.
Mexican Environment Secretary Juan Rafael Elvira said that 32 forestry experts not firefighters were helping fight California's wildfires and that more could join if neccesary.
For Mexico it is very important to cooperate with the United States in situations like these because these fires affect the environment on both sides, Elvira told a news conference. |
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