The second head of the CGB in the territory, Andy Luis Valle, said that the fight against the fire, which began at around 1:00 p.m., local time, on Sunday, in a mountainous area of the region known as San Simon de las Cuchillas, continues today.

Two trails opened by the roads that lead to the San Juan River and the Del Inferno stream, facilitate the advance of the forces to circulate the fire, he explained.

About 200 hectares of Caribbean pine trees, young and old, in addition to the natural forest are under the flames, intensified by the presence of winds from the south that exceed 25 kilometers per hour, Valle explained.

Along with the CGB specialized forces are workers from the Ministry of Agriculture in Pinar del Rio and its forestry branch, all of whom are equipped with the necessary gears to deal with these kinds of events.

The intense drought in the area facilitates the presence of abundant combustible material to feed the flames, pointed out the expert, who explained that the local population, distant more than 12 kilometers, is not in danger.

Experts from the Ministry of the Interior are investigating the causes of the fire in that remote area of San Juan and Martinez.

jg/msm/alo