Fires Dangerously Close to Temples at Altun Ha  

As we have been reporting over the past several weeks, the fires observed across the country are raging on. Last week, we took you to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve where, after days of effort, a team was able to control the flames spreading rapidly across the reserve. Tonight, we take you to the Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve, where a fire that began on Monday has edged dangerously close to the Mayan structures housed there. Today, News Five’s Britney Gordon visited the site to meet the team working furiously to save this beloved Belizean attraction.

 

Britney Gordon, reporting

I’m here at the Altun Ha Archeological Reserve standing next to the temple of Masonry, one of its most popular attractions, known for where the Jade Head was discovered. And just a few meters behind me, there is a fire burning. Altun Ha is the archeological site that is closest to Belize City. It is also one of the most popular tourist attractions in the district. Renowned for its diverse flora and fauna and imposing Mayan architecture, the site is a valued historical landmark in Belize. On Monday, as park rangers were making the usual rounds on the site grounds, they observed smoke emanating from somewhere within the reserve. This immediately raised an alarm for park manager, Felix Cruz.

 

Felix Cruz, Park Manager, Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve

“Yesterday we observed the smoke coming in the plaza. So one of me and the rangers mister Marvin Jones, around eleven thirty in the morning, we went on site in the underbrush to see where the fire was coming from or the smoke. We didn’t find anything at that time. A little bit later on in the evening, around five thirty, me and the security, mister Belisle we came to do another patrol. That’s when we saw a fire over here behind me.”

 

 

 

After discovering the fire, Cruz notified the Institute of Archaeology, the village chairman, and several tour operators, who responded with equipment, water, and manpower.

 

Felix Cruz

“We also had a truck, water truck that came in from Medina’s Construction that assisted us. So we managed to maintain the fire last night. At this moment, we’re still making fire paths with the rangers, the maintenance team from the Institute of Archaeology.”

 

 

 

Britney Gordon

“Talk to me about what the action taken to maintain this fire looked like. What was the efforts?”

 

Felix Cruz

“The action taken, the community came out as a team. Everyone assisted by providing drums, buckets, rakes and machetes. Everyone came in with flashlights and we started to do a fire path and we waited about an hour for the fire truck to come in and not the water truck. And from there we managed to maintain this area here.”

 

 

 

 

The team sprang into action, dousing the flames with gallons of water and creating fire paths with the use of rakes and machetes. Several lines were cleared by the rangers, an effort, that lasted well into midnight.

 

Devon Jones, Park Ranger

 “We are continuing to monitor the fire right about now, but last night we have a full experience about a bushfire and the whole community come out and assist.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What were some of the activities that you and your team were doing in order to maintain the fire?”

 

 

Devon Jones

“We get drums and some water, we got machete, rakes we started to make fire paths in the bush, to  keep on out it.”

 

Cruz says that as the fires are very close to the plaza where the structures are, visitors complain about smoke billowing into the area. While the team is doing its best to manage the flames, there is not much that can be done otherwise.

 

 

Britney Gordon

“We recently had one at the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve that was an alarming fire. What about here? Is that a trend that you notice getting more serious?”

 

 

 

 

Felix Cruz

“The season, we all expect forest fires. So what we try to do is prepare for it. Hence the reason why we try to clean the survey lines, the border lines. There’s nothing much that we can do. It’s a natural event. All we can do is try to manage it the best way we can.”

 

 

 

 

The task of containing the fire is a new experience for Devon Jones, but as a ranger, he is prepared to manage the park at all costs.

 

Devon Jones

“It seems like an adventure at the night, but good experience, good to experience something like that. Get your body trained and fit. You never know where that might happen anytime.”

 

Britney Gordon

“Do you feel like you’re more prepared to handle situations like this moving forward?”

 

Devon Jones

“I guess I’ll do my best.”

 

 

The team managed to contain the flames this morning, but the fires increased late this afternoon, forcing the staff to double their efforts. The situation is still being monitored.

 

 

The team is currently seeking assistance from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Development and Housing for the provision of a water truck to the area. Britney Gordon for News Five.