The speed and ferocity with which the fire consumed approximately 4,000 hectares in Palo Verde National Park had never been seen before. This was detailed by Alexander León Campos, director of the Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area (ACAT).
The fire, which began last Thursday, May 28, after a lightning strike, spread rapidly on Sunday, May 31.
We had records under similar conditions with burn rates of up to 1.6 hectares per minute. However, last Sunday an incredible speed was recorded: more than seven hectares per minute were burning,” León explained.
The work of the fire brigades and conservation staff managed to contain the fire in the wetland area to prevent it from advancing into the forested zone, and as of this Thursday, it is reported as “fully contained,” although it has not been completely extinguished.
By creating firebreaks, firefighters managed to bring the fire under control. Photo: ACAT
The entire affected area consisted of zones covered by cattail (Typha domingensis), an invasive plant that saturates the Palo Verde wetlands. This plant grows densely, reaching heights of between one and a half and two meters, and due to its characteristics, it is highly combustible in fires of this type.
The Impact of El Niño
León Campos explained that the persistent drought plaguing the region has disrupted the normal cycles of the fire season.
Normally, by this time we have already closed the fire season, because the rains begin in May. But this year the dry period has been extended and is projected to last a couple more months, which is directly affecting us,” he noted.
Due to the El Niño weather phenomenon, Guanacaste is suffering from a severe drought. This lack of seasonal moisture was compounded by the high temperatures recorded in the province of Guanacaste and the wind, which complicated the firefighters’ work for several days.
These shifting winds changed the direction of the flames from one moment to the next, making it difficult to implement the strategy of creating firebreaks.
León reported that there is still no official count of how many and which species of wildlife died trapped in the fire. When conditions are safe—possibly next week—the specialized team will enter the area to conduct an assessment.
However, he noted that based on the fire that occurred in 2023 in the same Palo Verde sector, the most vulnerable species are reptiles and amphibians, which are unable to escape the flames.
In the 2023 fire, nearly 4,000 charred turtle shells were counted.
Since the tifa is a plant where various birds nest, there are also chicks that cannot flee or whose nests with eggs are burned, León mentioned.
Large animals such as deer, felines, coatis, and raccoons usually have the ability to detect danger in time and take refuge in areas of the forest that were not reached by the fire.
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