Environment deploys crews as fires threaten forests

Santo Domingo.- The Environment Ministry on Wednesday announced the immediate occupation of a large area in Los Haitises ??National Park (northeast) where tracts of land have been burned recently for illicit farming and other illegal activities.

Environment minister Bautista Rojas said more firefighters were also deployed today at forests in the village Pinal Parejo, near Constanza, central La Vega province.

In a statement, the official said the order to occupy Los Haitises resulted from a flyover at the zone to spot the fires caused by the current nationwide drought.

Rojas said Defense minister Máximo Muñoz pledged to provide all the support necessary to quickly secure the areas.