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-Editorial
As wildfires continue to impact the municipality of Tecate, the Government of Baja California convened a high-level emergency meeting Friday night to assess ongoing response efforts. Led by Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda and organized through the Office of the Secretary General of Government, the session brought together officials from all levels of government, including the National Civil Protection Coordination and international representatives such as Cal Fire from San Diego.
The meeting, held by the State Emergency Committee, aimed to strengthen interagency coordination and binational cooperation in addressing the active forest fires in Tecate. Participants included Tecate Mayor Román Cota Muñoz; federal and state CONAFOR officials Sergio Graf and Víctor Armando Santoyo; Oscar Cepeda of the National Civil Protection Coordination; Encarnación Mosqueda from SADER Baja California; Commander José Manuel López González of SEDENA’s 18th Battalion; Cal Fire San Diego representative Ariel Vázquez; and Adriana Soto, liaison for the Mexican Consulate in San Diego.
By 10:00 p.m. on Friday, June 20, officials reported that the wildfire in the Fronterizo sector was fully contained and extinguished after burning approximately 1,200 hectares. In the Cañadas del Sol sector, containment stood at 10% and extinguishment at 5%, affecting 20 hectares. The Guadalajara 2 sector remained the most active, with 40% containment and 20% extinguishment, and a total of 7,000 hectares affected.
More than 138 operational personnel are currently deployed across the fire zones. Response efforts include teams from all seven municipalities in the state, along with support from Baja California Civil Protection, the Secretariat of National Defense (SEDENA), the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), local fire departments, municipal police, and Cal Fire units, which have provided equipment and infrared drone support. Reinforcements from San Quintín, Mexicali, and San Felipe, as well as three rural brigades activated by SADER, are expected to join the response on Saturday.
CONAFOR Director Sergio Graf noted during the session that efforts are underway to expedite the arrival of three additional firefighting brigades from other parts of Mexico to bolster containment in high-risk areas.
In terms of community safety, a pre-alert remains in effect for the communities of El Hongo, La Rumorosa, and El Cóndor. Officials indicated that preventive evacuations could be ordered if fire behavior worsens. Two temporary shelters have been opened in El Hongo and La Rumorosa, and evacuation routes have been identified in coordination with municipal and state security forces.
Secretary General of Government Alfredo Álvarez Cárdenas reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to protecting public safety. Authorities urged residents to stay informed through official channels, avoid high-risk zones, respect evacuation orders, and follow guidance from emergency personnel. For emergencies, residents are advised to call 9-1-1.