Mexico Strengthens Coordination Ahead of 2026 Wildfire Season

Authorities from different levels of government gathered in Baja California Sur to take part in this year’s National Civil Protection Meeting. During the event, prevention and planning actions were presented to address the 2026 forest fire season. The gathering aims to strengthen coordination among federal, state, and municipal agencies to define prevention strategies, firefighting programs, and measures to protect Natural Protected Areas. Officials presented preventive measures, the available firefighting force, and the preparedness actions agreed upon by the Government of Mexico.

José Cervantes, State Coordinator of Civil Protection, recalled that the National Civil Protection System (Sinaproc) is marking its 40th anniversary, and noted that thanks to decades of evolution and learning, civil protection has shifted from a reactive approach to becoming a public policy focused on prevention and risk management.

Teresa Flores, General Coordinator of Conservation and Restoration, National Forestry Commission (Conafor), pointed out that, according to historical statistics, forest fires worldwide are becoming increasingly aggressive in terms of intensity and severity. She reported that in 2025, Mexico recorded 7,016 forest fires, affecting a total area of 1,230,212ha.

Flores emphasized that, based on meteorological forecasts, adverse conditions are expected to persist across the country, making it essential to strengthen physical, cultural, and legal prevention measures, as well as to be prepared with sufficient material and human resources to ensure a timely and effective response to fire outbreaks.

According to the National Meteorological Service, February is expected to see the continuation of drought conditions, with below-average rainfall across large areas of the central-western region and the northwest of the country. Estimated rainfall for the month is 11mm, which is 30% below the historical average.

In March, rainfall is also expected to remain below average in the northwest, central-western, and northeastern regions of the country. Estimated precipitation for this month is 9mm, representing a 44% reduction. Conditions are expected to improve in April, with rainfall levels closer to the historical average across most of the country.

The coordinator reiterated that the main strategy of the National Fire Management Program is interinstitutional coordination among agencies from all three levels of government, organized civil society, forest producers, academia, and the general public. She also expressed her gratitude to forest fire brigades and specialized technical personnel from all institutions, recognizing them as the most valuable resource in this effort.

Laura Velázquez, National Coordinator of Civil Protection, explained that federal agencies, including the Ministry of the Navy, are preparing aircraft, helicopters, and water buckets, in addition to training personnel for aerial firefighting operations. She noted that satellite technology is being used to detect fires early and that efforts are underway to ensure that fire response begins within less than two hours of detection.

She also announced that, together with the Federal Ministry of Security and the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic, a state-level strategic plan has been designed to facilitate the filing of complaints against those responsible for causing fires. Additionally, she clarified that agricultural burns require prior authorization from state or municipal civil protection authorities, a free but mandatory procedure.

In her remarks, Velázquez underscored the importance of strengthening coordination and joint efforts to face the upcoming forest fire season, noting that more than 95% of forest fires are caused by human activity. “In this sense, prevention and the care of our forests are everyone’s responsibility,” she stressed.

Finally, Marina del Pilar Ávila, Governor of Baja California, stated that in 2026, more than 1,500 people will be trained to combat forest fires. During the ceremony, the National Civil Protection Coordination presented awards to forest fire brigades and specialized fire management technicians in recognition of their outstanding work during the 2025 fire season.

The event brought together institutions that make up the National Civil Protection System, including the SEDENA, the Navy, SEMARNAT, the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), Conafor, and the National Civil Protection Coordination (CNPC), as well as state and municipal authorities from Baja California.

Global Wildfire Situation

According to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), wildfires rank among the most economically destructive hazards worldwide. Between 2014 and 2023, wildfires caused an estimated US$106 billion in economic losses and US$74 billion in insured losses globally. The United States accounts for the majority of these impacts, with nine of the ten most expensive wildfire events since 1970 occurring in the country.

In 2025, total damages caused by natural hazards worldwide were estimated at US$224 billion, of which US$108 billion were insured, according to global reinsurance company Munich Re. The costliest single event of the year was the Los Angeles wildfire disaster, with losses totaling US$53 billion, including US$40 billion in insured losses.

The countries most affected by wildfires in terms of burned land are primarily located in Africa and Australia. During 2025, wildfires burned nearly 390 million ha worldwide, with more than half of that area, approximately 246 million ha, located in Africa. Meanwhile, Australia, where a state of emergency has recently been declared due to extreme wildfire risks in Victoria, recorded one of the largest proportions of land affected by wildfires in 2025, with more than 45 million ha burned.

In Mexico, wildfires destroyed 2.7 million ha in 2025. Furthermore, so far in 2026, a total of 198 forest fires have been recorded, affecting 5,443 ha. The states reporting the highest number of incidents are Morelos with 23 fires, Michoacan with 22, and Jalisco with 21.