Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – At least 48 fires have burned more than 13,000 hectares across Jalisco’s coastal municipalities this season, with Cabo Corrientes hardest hit, report preliminary UEPCBJ figures.
At least 48 forest fires have ripped through the coastal municipalities of Jalisco so far this season, scorching vast tracts of mountain ranges and grasslands and posing mounting challenges for firefighters and environmental authorities. According to a Preliminary Information Sheet released by the Jalisco State Civil Protection and Firefighters Unit (UEPCBJ), the 2025 season has already registered an average of 2.25 fires per week along the North Coast and Costalegre regions.
The preliminary figures indicate that Cabo Corrientes has been the worst affected, with 18 distinct fires consuming an estimated 9,200 hectares of forest and scrubland. Tomatlán follows closely behind, reporting 12 fires that have devastated 3,364 hectares. Puerto Vallarta has not escaped unscathed either, recording 10 separate blazes that ravaged 209 hectares, particularly across the municipality’s northeastern hillsides.
Smaller-scale flare-ups have been logged in Cihuatlán and La Huerta, each with four fires, but the area impacted differs markedly: Cihuatlán’s incidents have burned through 472 hectares, while La Huerta’s fires have affected just 94 hectares. Collectively, these recorded blazes sum to more than 13,000 hectares lost to flames, with the final toll expected to climb as the season progresses and ongoing verification of affected zones concludes.
Despite recent rainfall in some inland areas, the coastal belt remains parched, providing ideal conditions for wildfires to ignite and spread. “Our crews are working around the clock to contain these fires, but dry winds and steep terrain complicate suppression efforts,” said a UEPCBJ spokesperson. Firefighters from state and municipal brigades, supported by aerial water drops, have been deployed continuously to hotspots in Cabo Corrientes and Tomatlán—where vegetation is densest and access roads are few.
Authorities emphasize that the current dataset is preliminary. “All figures are subject to adjustment as our technical teams complete ground assessments and satellite analyses,” the UEPCBJ statement reads. After verification, the final hectare counts and ignition causes—ranging from agricultural burns gone awry to suspected arson—will be published in a comprehensive report.
Municipal Breakdown
- Cabo Corrientes: 18 fires | ~9,200 hectares affected
- Tomatlán: 12 fires | ~3,364 hectares affected
- Puerto Vallarta: 10 fires | ~209 hectares affected
- Cihuatlán: 4 fires | ~472 hectares affected
- La Huerta: 4 fires | ~94 hectares affected
Environmental experts warn that continued habitat loss threatens local biodiversity, including several species of migratory birds and endemic plants found only in Jalisco’s coastal mountain ecosystems. Grasslands converted to scrub due to repeated burns are slower to recover, raising concerns about soil erosion and watershed health as the rains return later in the year.
Local tourism stakeholders have voiced anxiety over the wildfires’ potential to deter visitors—especially beachgoers drawn to Puerto Vallarta and the Costalegre’s quieter shores. “Smoke can drift down to popular resorts and mar the otherwise pristine vistas,” noted a representative of the Jalisco Tourism Board, who added that coordinated messaging and rapid fire containment are critical to maintaining traveler confidence.
In response, the state government has launched a public-awareness campaign urging residents and visitors to report any signs of smoke or unattended campfires immediately by calling the UEPCBJ hotline. Municipal authorities are also increasing patrols in vulnerable areas, enforcing bans on open-air burns until the rainy season arrives. Ranchers and farmers have been reminded of legal obligations under Jalisco’s environmental regulations to secure permits and follow safety protocols for any controlled burns.
Fire prevention experts recommend that homeowners in fire-prone hillside communities create defensible perimeters around properties by clearing dry brush and maintaining well-watered gardens. “Small measures at the household level can slow a wildfire’s advance and give firefighters crucial minutes to respond,” said a coordinator for a community-based fire prevention network.
As the 2025 wildfire season continues, Jalisco’s civil protection agencies stress the importance of intermunicipal cooperation. Neighboring states, including Colima and Michoacán, have provided additional fire crews and equipment under a mutual-aid agreement. Meanwhile, federal forestry authorities stand ready to assist with aerial reconnaissance and specialized containment teams if conditions worsen.
Looking ahead, analysts caution that climate trends toward higher temperatures and prolonged dry spells may be lengthening Mexico’s fire seasons, underscoring the need for expanded investment in early-warning systems, community education, and reforestation efforts once the rains return. The final tally of fires and hectares consumed in Jalisco’s coastal region will only be known once UEPCBJ completes its verification process—a task that may not conclude until late in the year.
For now, thousands of hectares remain blackened testament to a relentless blaze season, and both authorities and residents prepare for the possibility of more fires as dry conditions persist. Vigilance, swift reporting, and responsible land-management practices will be key to preventing the 2025 season from eclipsing the worst wildfire years in Jalisco’s history.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - At least 48 fires have burned more than 13,000 hectares across Jalisco’s coastal municipalities this season, with Cabo Corrientes hardest hit, report preliminary UEPCBJ figures.
