A significant fire broke out at Lorne Ross Park in Pozos de Santa Ana, Costa Rica, on the evening of Wednesday, October 18. According to the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC), the fire, which was visible from Route 27, affected approximately 5 hectares of pastureland adjacent to the park, which encompasses a total area of 52 hectares on both sides of the highway leading to Caldera.

The Costa Rican Fire Department responded to reports of the fire at approximately 7:07 p.m., deploying seven units to contain the flames.

Director Héctor Chaves reported to local media shortly after 9:30 p.m. that the spread of the fire had been contained, although efforts to extinguish lingering hot spots continued into the early hours of Thursday morning.

Firefighter Maynard Zumbado mentioned that operations were hampered by challenging terrain and strong winds, resulting in thick smoke that momentarily disrupted traffic on Route 27. The Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE), through its Fire Management Department, collaborated in the response, focusing on safeguarding a historic casona, a trapiche, and nearby residential areas—all of which remained unharmed.

At 7:00 a.m. on Thursday, representatives from the Fire Management Program of the Central Conservation Area (ACC-SINAC) conducted a site inspection to assess the damage.

Meryll Arias, the ACC-SINAC Director, confirmed that the fire exclusively consumed pastureland, with no impact on forested areas or infrastructure.

She credited prior preventive measures, including firebreak lines established by MINAE and volunteers from ASVO during routine dry-season preparations on March 4, for protecting the historic structures.

Meanwhile, the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) has called for an official investigation by the Fire Department’s Engineering team to determine the fire's cause, which SINAC suspects may have been the result of roadside vandalism.

In light of the incident, MINAE-SINAC reiterated its appeal to the public to engage in forest fire prevention, highlighting the broader implications of such fires on ecological carbon stocks, climate change, biodiversity, and public safety.

The recent blaze is noted as at least the 32nd fire incident in the vicinity since 2020, underscoring the area’s ongoing susceptibility to wildfires.

The fire has ignited a political debate within the country, with former President Laura Chinchilla leveraging social media to criticize MINAE’s management, attributing the fire to a failure in fulfilling conservation responsibilities.

She also accused Congresswoman Pilar Cisneros of jeopardizing Costa Rica’s natural heritage in pursuit of personal interests related to land use.

Congresswoman Kattia Cambronero also voiced concerns via social media, reporting the intensity of the fire and highlighting a lack of water supplies for firefighting efforts.

She described the situation as “indignante,” calling into question the preparedness of MINAE in such emergencies.

Lorne Ross Park has emerged as a contentious issue in recent months, particularly concerning proposals led by Cisneros of the Progressive Liberal Party to convert parts of the conservation area into a recreational “Water Park.” This proposal has encountered staunch opposition from the Lorne Ross Pro-Natural Park Movement and local communities, who argue that the initiative goes against the park’s environmental objectives.

As investigations into the fire continue, discussions regarding the future of Lorne Ross Park and its governance are poised to intensify.