Initiative launched to stop forest fires on the island

Authorities warn that most wildfires in Puerto Rico are caused by human actions and can be avoided through public education, community responsibility, and preventive measures (Puerto Rico Responders.)

By THE STAR STAFF

The sustained increase in wildfires in Puerto Rico during 2026 has raised alarms among authorities and environmental organizations, who insist that prevention remains the best tool for addressing this emergency.

With this goal in mind, the non-profit organization Sigue Tu Cepa Foundation launched the “5 Meter Challenge,” a community initiative that encourages residents to maintain a perimeter of approximately five meters free of dry vegetation around homes, schools, businesses, and farms, thus reducing the fuel available for a fire.

The proposal is part of a new phase of the Puerto Rico in Flames 2026 educational campaign , developed in conjunction with the Firefighting Division of the Puerto Rico Fire Department.

The organization aims to encourage citizens to adopt a simple practice that can make a significant difference in protecting lives, property, agricultural land, and natural ecosystems. In addition to reducing the risk of fire spread, these defensible areas facilitate access and the work of forestry brigades during emergencies.

The initiative is particularly relevant at a time when the island is experiencing one of its most active fire seasons in recent years. According to the Puerto Rico Fire Bureau’s Statistical Incident Dashboard, as of July 3, 1,228 wildfires had been reported, representing 8.6% of the 14,216 incidents handled by the agency during that period.

However, more recent reports from the Bureau’s operational districts, updated between July 15 and 16, indicate that the situation continues to worsen. Collectively, the regions with available data have already surpassed 1,500 wildfires, with more than 7,000 acres burned, equivalent to approximately 2,800 hectares of affected land.

The data shows that the Mayagüez district has the highest number of fires with 371, followed by Guayama with 201 and Ponce with 164. In terms of area affected, Guayama leads the list with 3,344 acres consumed by the flames, while Mayagüez reports 1,116.25 acres and Ponce another 1,016.5. Other areas among the most impacted include Aguadilla, Bayamón, Humacao, Barceloneta, Caguas, Arecibo, and Carolina. The report for the Río Piedras district was incomplete at the time the statistics were released, so the figures remain preliminary and subject to revision.

Authorities maintain that the vast majority of wildfires in Puerto Rico are caused by human activity and could have been prevented. This reality makes public education and preventative measures essential components of the strategy to reduce these types of emergencies.

“We must create defensible areas on the land to manage the risk of fires and prevent economic losses, damage to our ecosystems, and the loss of human lives. Most fires are caused by human activity. Sometimes discarded bottles are blamed, but it is striking that fires occur in the same areas every year, making it essential to strengthen prevention and surveillance,” said Sergeant José M. Martínez-Forestal, supervisor of the Lajas Fire Station of the Puerto Rico Fire Bureau.

Through the “5-Meter Challenge,” the Sigue Tu Cepa Foundation is urging citizens to clear dry vegetation, leaves, branches, and any other combustible material that accumulates around their structures. The organization is also inviting people to document the process with before-and-after photos using the hashtags #Reto5Metros and #PuertoRicoEnLlamas , with the goal of motivating more communities, schools, farmers, cooperatives, and businesses to replicate the initiative.

The organizers remind everyone that, in addition to taking preventative measures on their properties, it is essential to immediately report any smoke or fire by calling 911. The speed with which fires are addressed can be crucial in preventing a small blaze from escalating into a major disaster.