The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources announced that the forest fire in the Aceitillar area of Sierra de Bahoruco, a protected mountain range in the southwestern Dominican Republic, has been brought under 99% control following several days of intensive firefighting operations.
Environment Minister Paíno Henríquez returned to the affected area on Saturday to inspect the damage and review the progress made by the firefighting crews and technical personnel who have been working continuously to contain the blaze.
Most Firefighting Crews Begin to Withdraw
With the emergency largely under control, brigades deployed from several provinces will begin leaving the area. Forest firefighters based in Pedernales Province will remain on site to extinguish the remaining hot spots and monitor the forest for any signs of reignition.
During his visit, Henríquez praised the commitment of the firefighting teams, saying their experience and dedication were key to containing the wildfire despite the difficult conditions.
“Today we returned to Sierra de Bahoruco and found a very different situation than just a few days ago. The fire is under control, and that is the result of the work, experience and dedication of our forest firefighters,” the minister said.
Difficult Terrain Challenged Firefighters
According to Gerónimo Abreu, director of the National Fire Management Program, firefighters faced steep terrain, strong winds and large amounts of dry vegetation, all of which complicated suppression efforts.
Crews focused on opening and restoring firebreaks and access routes that allowed them to reach affected sections of the forest and stop the fire from spreading further. The Ministry also deployed machinery and specialized equipment to improve access throughout the operation.
Officials said some of the access roads restored during the emergency will remain open to support future patrols, surveillance and rapid response to any new forest fires in Sierra de Bahoruco.
Investigation and Forest Recovery
Once firefighting operations are fully completed, technical teams will begin assessing the affected areas and investigating how and where the wildfire started.
Abreu noted that the pine forests found in Sierra de Bahoruco have a natural capacity to regenerate after fire events. The Ministry will continue monitoring the impacted areas to evaluate forest recovery and determine whether additional management measures are required.
Henríquez was joined during the inspection by Vice Ministers José Elías González and Carlos Bautista, along with Abreu and other technical specialists from the Ministry. The institution also recognized the work of the forest firefighters and support personnel who remained deployed for several days until the wildfire was brought under control.