Forest Fire In Western Mexico Burns Over 8,000 Acres

Forest fire in western Mexico burns over 8,000 acres 2012-04-24 18:54:44 GMT+7 (ICT) GUADALAJARA, MEXICO (BNO NEWS) -- Fast-moving wildfires in Mexico's western state of Jalisco have burned over 8,000 acres (3,237 hectares) in less than three days, officials said on early Tuesday. There have been no reports of casualties.The fire broke out at around 10:30 a.m. local time on Saturday in the Primavera forest which is located just west of the state's capital Guadalajara. The wildfire is believed to have broken out after an illegal garbage dump was burned near the Arenales Tapatios neighborhood.Roughly 58 hours after the fire broke out, authorities said some 8,154 acres (3,300 hectares) of protected forestland has been burned. Jalisco's State Commission of Forest Fire Fighting and Prevention reported that of the 370 personnel already operating in the affected areas, 350 of them will continue working throughout Tuesday morning.Although the wildfire has continued to spread, the fires have not yet placed the nearest residential areas in danger. Nonetheless, as a result of the thick smoke, at least ten schools in the municipalities of Zapopan and Tala canceled their classes on Monday.

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