The highest environmental authority and the Red Cross, recommend to CLOPAD and CREPAD, keep a special watch, in order to avoid any conflagration that could cause damage to the vegetal layer.

The Early Warning System (SAT), made up of Corpoguajira and the Colombian Red Cross (Seccional Guajira), It is allowed to alert the emergency authorities of the department that there is a high threat of forest fires occurring in the mountain systems of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Serranía de Perijá and the La Makuira National Natural Park; during the months of July, August and September of this year; due to decreasing cloud cover, precipitation and increase in temperatures, which have reached the 38 degrees Celsius.

All of the above, The highest environmental authority recommends to the Councils (Departmental and Municipal) Risk Management, adopt an emergency and contingency plan, Likewise, take extreme preventive measures to deal with fires that may occur in their jurisdictions..

A wildfire, It arises because solar heat causes dehydration in plants, which recover the water lost from the substrate. However, when soil moisture drops to a level below 30%, plants are unable to obtain soil water, with which they dry little by little. This process causes the emission to atmosphere of ethylene, a present highly combustible vegetation and chemical. It takes place then a double phenomenon: Both plants and the air around them become easily flammable, which multiplies the risk of fire. If these conditions in periods of high temperatures and strong winds moderate sum, the possibility of a simple spark starting a fire become significant.

These important recommendations are provided below:

– Under no circumstances set fire to the field.

-Do not throw matches on the ground, butts, cigarettes or burning objects. Nor papers, cans, Plastics, glass or any type of waste or combustible material which may cause a fire.

-No fires.

-People near a fire, They should try to go to a place where the fire cannot reach them.

-Do not throw cigarette butts or matches from moving vehicles.

-Do not intervene or act on your own to fight a forest fire, the most important thing is personal safety.

-In case of a fire, notify emergency authorities as soon as possible. Indicate the location of the fire in your notice, the most appropriate way to get there, taking into account where the fire is advancing.

– Please have the following emergency numbers:

7274693, 310-2610228, 132 RED CROSS

7273353-144 CIVIL DEFENSE

119 FIREFIGHTERS

3176682497, 3114145114 DISASTER PREVENTION AND CARE

The Early Warning Office, will be monitoring these systems and the formation of any hydrometeorological phenomena, to give timely notice to the entire community.