Ya'axche also reported that the largest community fire started near Machakilha and burned southward towards the Sarstoon River. That damaged 3,192 acres. That fire was proximate to a fire south of Graham Creek that damaged about 1,715. Other communities that saw large acres lost were Crique Jute, Blue Creek, San Lucas, and San Pedro Colombia.
Many of these villages are difficult to access, and for Machakilha and Graham Creek in particular, the residents are unable to communicate with the rest of the country. Garcia explained that they had to fight the fires themselves.
Christina Garcia, Executive Director, Ya'axche Conservation Trust
"From talking to people on the ground, it seems that it was very difficult and what we noticed, when we did this analysis and saw some of the largest continuous fires in this area, we were amazed because it never did hit the news and I think that's one of the reasons why we were so shocked because communication is really hard in these communities and for some of the farmers there, it's the first time they're seeing such devastation, such fires destroying their farms and their homes. So definitely they felt unprepared and at some point they felt that they couldn't have that communication to get the necessary help that is needed and also these communities are very remote, the access road isn't that great, probably for some of these communities, it would take hours to arrive there so even if help wanted to come from the organizations or even the government, it would have been late if they had given the help or communicated at that time to out these fires."
