MANAGUA – A total of 3,246 hectares (8,015 acres) of forest and pastureland, including 2,571 hectares (6,348 acres) of a nature reserve, were destroyed by wildfires in Nicaragua that have now been brought under control, emergency services officials said on Saturday.

Mayor Juan Pablo Montoya, taking his turn as head of emergency services, told Efe that 1,559 hectares (3,849 acres) of the woodland consumed by fire were in the Las Pilas-El Hoyo nature reserve northwest of Managua.

Another 1,012 hectares (2,499 acres) laid waste by the flames belonged to the Cosiguina reserve, located on the volcano of the same name, in the western province of Chinandega, he said.

The blaze in the protected areas that normally shelter a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna began four days ago as a result of strong gusts of wind and the carelessness of local residents, the authorities said.

The National Forestry Institute, or INAFOR, announced that it will open investigations to find those responsible for the fires and report them.

These are the biggest forest fires seen in Nicaragua in the dry season so far this year.

Mayor Montoya said that the blazes began Wednesday and that the main problems that voluntary brigades and other personnel found in trying to control the flames were lack of water and the difficulty of getting trucks to the places that were burning, as well as the strong winds.

Authorities reported no victims of the wildfires.