Mexico City – Mexican authorities may order residents to leave communities in the drought-stricken northern state of Coahuila, where ongoing wildfires have already scorched 249,000 hectares (614,814 acres), the country's Semarnat environmental agency said Thursday.
Some 1,500 ground personnel and 25 aircraft are currently battling eight active fires in the state, which borders Texas.
One of those blazes is threatening the highland town of Arteaga, contiguous to the municipality of Galeana in the neighboring state of Nuevo Leon.
Authorities are now considering whether to order evacuations from four agricultural settlements and the Monterreal ski resort, Semarnat said.
In the meantime, area residents are urged to flee "as quickly as possible" if they see fire approaching and not to try to battle the flames themselves.
"Weather conditions in the area continue to be adverse, with high temperatures, strong winds and relative humidity of less than 9 percent, which has slowed the work of the firefighters and the aircraft," Semarnat said.
A Canadian waterbomber that was supposed to begin work Thursday experienced mechanical problems and is under repair, the agency said.
The Martin JRM Mars, operated by Canada's Coulson Group, was hired by Mexican officials after the departure from Coahuila of two U.S. Air Force C-130s that were recalled to fight blazes in Texas.
Two Air Tractor crop-dusting aircraft sent to substitute for the Mars also broke down, Semarnat said, prompting the government to dispatch a third Sky Crane helicopter to Coahuila.
Mexico has already spent 244 million pesos ($20.3 million) to deal with the wildfires in Coahuila.
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