Costa Rica environmental officials are battling a wildfire that has now spread into the Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve in Guanacaste after first burning on a nearby private farm, according to information released by the Ministry of Environment and Energy and SINAC. An earlier report said the fire was initially outside the protected area and threatening to enter the reserve, with firefighters from Lomas Barbudal and Palo Verde and volunteer brigades working to stop it.
By the time authorities updated the situation, the fire had moved into the reserve and preliminary estimates indicated that at least 50 hectares of State Natural Heritage land may have been affected. Officials said crews worked until 3 a.m. and managed to contain two of the main hotspots, but response efforts remained active today as teams tried to keep the blaze from spreading further.
Authorities described the fire as difficult to control because of the terrain, steep areas, and dry forest conditions in the zone. They said it is a ground fire that moves slowly but steadily and tends to intensify on slopes, making it especially dangerous and hard to fully extinguish. Even if the blaze is controlled quickly, officials expect at least three more days of work to prevent flare-ups, a recurring risk in this part of Guanacaste.
The fire remains classified at Level 2, which requires extra resources. Conservation officials and support staff from neighboring areas have joined the operation, with about 13 people assigned to operational and logistical work in shifts, much of it carried out overnight. More personnel were expected to arrive to reinforce the response.
Lomas Barbudal Biological Reserve is part of the Arenal Tempisque Conservation Area and lies north of Palo Verde National Park. Teletica reported that the reserve is an important protected area for wildlife in Guanacaste, adding to concern over the potential environmental damage from the fire.
Environment Minister Franz Tattenbach warned that fires do not begin as major emergencies but can leave deep and lasting damage. He said wildfires alter soil, reduce fertility, disrupt natural water cycles, and can leave ecosystems in protected areas needing years or even decades to recover. Authorities again urged the public to report any signs of wildfire immediately during the dry season, when conditions allow flames to spread quickly.
