Despite the fact that the El Niño phenomenon has not yet officially established itself, Costa Rica is already recording a 250% increase in wildfires so far this year compared to the same period in 2025.

“Years influenced by El Niño cause earlier drying of plant matter, which significantly increases the risk of rapid fire spreading.” — Gabriel Barrantes, Head of the Forestry Operational Unit of the Fire Department

A Year-Round Fire Season: The New Reality?

• Global Precedents: In countries like the United States and Chile, the fire season has ceased to be distinctly marked; emergencies now strike practically year-round.
• The Worst-Case Scenario: For Costa Rica, the ultimate operational challenge would be battling simultaneous, large-scale interface fires threatening structures across Guanacaste, the Southern Zone, and the Southern Caribbean all at once.

Deep Concern Over Mature Forests and National Parks

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