The always-on drought conditions fueled such a situation, stressed Beckford, while setting at 1,303 the reports of wildfires reported, over 402 similar month of 2022.

Climate change puts pressure on our resources, he said, and urged farmers to give up using the slash-and-burn technique. “If they have to burn, it’s best to do it well into the late afternoon or evening when it’s much cooler and there may be less of breeze,” Beckford stated, while further encouraging farmers to create fire breaks (a strip of open space or gap in vegetation) to prevent wildfires from spreading nationwide.

In the last five years, wildfires have occurred year-round, he described, which he said has to do with past and present drought conditions.

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