History of fires at Chipinque Ecologic Park
Due to the kind of dominant topography, climate, and vegetation at Chipinque Ecologic Park, the risk for forest fires is permanent in the dry season due to the great amount of organic material accumulated on the ground, as well as the high temperatures, strong winds, and little or no relative humidity during this season.

Within the 11 years of Chipinque Ecologic Park administration, there have been 2 fires recorded. The first one in 1996, starting near the area known as “la manzanita”. The kind of fire was superficial affecting 14 hectares and fighting 2 days against it and 15 days surveillance for total extinguishing. The second one in 1998, starting in the area known as “las moras”. During this fire, there were 500 hectares affected. In 100 of them, there was a treetop fire and the remaining 400 hectares, superficial fire. The fire lasted 11 days and 30 days for total extinguishing.

It is worth pointing out that during these 11 years, there have been fire threats attacked in different areas of the Park. These fire threats have been caused by natural phenomenon and by human beings.

Forest Fires Prevention
The Department of Environmental Education works throughout the year in programs focusing the community in different demonstration workshops, exhibitions in the Visitors’ Attention Center, guided trails focused to students and the community in general.

The Forest Keeper Department is constantly supervising the Park and in contact with the visitors who are informed about the risk of fires that prevail in the area. This is achieved through monitoring the weather conditions taken at El Pinar, La Meseta, and the Visitors’ Attention Center. The weather conditions are compared with the forest light system which tells us the level of existing danger for a fire to start, as well as the steps to take which can be from increasing surveillance up to evacuation and closing the Park as a safety measure.

Likewise, there is communication material distributed in the entrance office during the fire season as well as relevant information in the blackboards. The maintenance department is in charge of cleaning the road and trail area; this with the objective of having a fast fire control.

Forest fires control
There are three crews integrated by maintenance and forest keeper personnel. The remaining personnel carry out some other activities whenever there is a fire.

Likewise, there are fire fighting specialized tools such as forest shovels, Pulaski, Mcleod, forest rake, machetes, spraying bags. They are distributed at El Pinar, Delicias, Meseta, Canoas areas, Visitors’ Attention Center and the entrance office at San Agustin will be equipped soon.

Training is received from different organizations such as the Mexican Fund for Nature Preservation, S.E.M.A.R.N.A.T., Civil Protection in the municipality of San Pedro, Garza García and the United States
Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nowadays, Chipinque Ecologic Park has been able to have the support of the different institutions and making agreements with parks in the United States for training and donation of equipment and tools as well as the collaboration of organizations such as the Mexican Fund for Nature Preservation / FMCN, A.C.