With the first major fire of the season now controlled, authorities are bracing for the next challenge: the annual influx of visitors to the Bosque de la Primavera during Semana Santa.
The protected forest, which receives more than 360,000 visitors annually, expects approximately 40,000 people during the Holy Week holiday period — roughly 15 percent of its yearly total in just a matter of days.
Gabriel Vázquez Sánchez, head of the OPD Bosque La Primavera, urges visitors to respect the strict prohibitions in place: no grills, campfires, braziers or any ignition sources; no alcoholic beverages; and no glass containers, which under intense solar radiation can act like magnifying lenses and spark fires. The forest’s soil contains high concentrations of obsidian, he says, which further increases surface temperatures and heightens the risk.
“This season will be dry, with no rain, high temperatures and plenty of wind,” Vázquez warns. “It only takes one spark to start a fire.”
Authorities also reminded visitors that motorcycles, ATVs and off-road vehicles are banned within the protected area. Visitors are asked to stay on designated trails, carry out all trash and waste and leave pets at home to avoid transmitting diseases to native wildlife.
To help protect animals during the dry season, the Tlajomulco Wildlife Unit has installed nine “oases,” water tanks with capacities up to 1,200 liters, in strategic areas. These watering stations are designed to provide relief during heat and drought, preventing animals from venturing into urban zones where they risk being hit by vehicles or contracting illnesses.