In just one week, more than 700 hectares (1,729 acres) of dry tropical forest have been affected by wildfires in the Conservation Area of Guanacaste. Flames have run through three major national parks of Costa Rica: Guanacaste, Santa Rosa and Rincón de la Vieja, and officials are investigating leads that suggest this may have been an act of arson.

 

According to a news segment broadcast by national network Teletica, three major fires are raging in the Guanacaste National Park while another one is active in the Santa Rosa Park. More than 30 firefighters have been working on containing the flames, which started last weekend. In the beginning, the wildfires were not considered to be very damaging; however, drought conditions and high winds exacerbated the situation. The wildfire was initially spotted by park rangers on patrol.

 

Firefighting crews are exhausted and waiting for reinforcements. Some of the areas affected by the fires are only accessible on foot, and the trek involves three kilometers through wildlife trails.  A helicopter has been deployed to support the firefighting contingent, which includes members of the National Firefighting Corps, Fuerza Publica cadets, and even emergency crews from a major real estate developer.

 

A significant portion of the Horizon Botanical Research Station is being threatened by the wildfires. At this station, native plant species are cultivated and protected for reforestation efforts, and thus the firefighters have been working diligently on surrounding the area with new firebreaks. Drought conditions in the region are forcing the crews to fight the wildfire mostly with hand tools and heavy equipment.

 

The Santa Rosa National Park is currently open to visitors, but officials are considering a temporary closure in case the flames continue to spread towards the Gulf of Papagayo.