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Authorities Identify Suspects in Forest Fires in San José de Ocoa
Environmental authorities in the Dominican Republic say they have identified two individuals believed to be responsible for separate forest fires affecting San José de Ocoa and neighboring Azua province, although both suspects remain at large.
The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has identified two individuals suspected of causing separate forest fires in La Cieniguita, San José de Ocoa, and Sabana de San Juan, an area of Azua province associated with agricultural producers from Ocoa. According to provincial officials, one suspect is a Haitian national and the other is a Dominican citizen, but neither has been apprehended.
Vidal Sánchez, the provincial director of the Ministry of Environment, said the fire in La Cieniguita was allegedly started by the Haitian suspect, who fled the area before authorities arrived. He noted that forest firefighters reached the scene approximately three hours after the blaze began because of the site’s remote location and poor road access.
Second Fire Linked to Agricultural Area
Authorities also identified a suspect in the forest fire that affected Sabana de San Juan, an area where farmers from San José de Ocoa cultivate a variety of crops in open fields. Sánchez said the individual left the community before officials could detain him and remains the subject of an ongoing search.
The fire damaged forests of conifer trees and other native vegetation in the area. Officials said the affected location is about 43 kilometers from the city of San José de Ocoa, making access difficult for emergency response teams.
Recurring Wildfire Risk
According to Sánchez, the Sabana de San Juan area has experienced repeated wildfire incidents over the years because of the strong presence of open-field agriculture. He said this combination of farming activity and forested land has made the area particularly vulnerable to fires.
The Ministry of Environment said efforts to locate both suspects are continuing as authorities investigate the incidents and assess the environmental damage caused by the fires.
