Los Angeles Times

LA's Oaxacan community rallies after wildfire devastates a region of Mexico famed for its mezcal

Third-generation master "mezcalero" Rogelio Mateo piles "Espadin" agave hearts- known as "piñas" because they look like large pineapples- in the stone oven used to cook the plants, prior to the fermentation and distillation process used to make mezcal, on Feb. 24, 2017, in Santiago Matatlan, Oaxaca state, Mexico.

The photos and videos began flooding in Feb. 27. In a region of Oaxaca famous for its flavorful mezcal, a wildfire was raging dangerously close to the town of San Lucas Quiaviní.

Massive plumes of smoke choked the horizon as the flames drove toward the town of 1,700. At nightfall, local officials put out an urgent call for volunteers to head out the next morning to beat back the fire. They asked for people over 18 who knew the roads and urged them to don helmets and face masks.

It would be days before the state government intervened with enough equipment and resources to get the blaze under control. In the interim, residents of San Lucas Quiaviní and

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times1 min read
Netflix Beefs Up Film Ranks, Hiring ‘Bad Boys For Life’ Producer
“Bad Boys for Life” producer Doug Belgrad will join Netflix as its vice president of film as the streaming giant continues to beef up its movie ranks following a major shakeup. A longtime Sony Pictures executive, Belgrad was involved in nearly all th
Los Angeles Times4 min readAmerican Government
Doyle McManus: A Lesson From Presidents Biden And Trump — The New Normal Is Nonstop Crises
A poll published by the Economist this month included a finding that was striking yet unsurprising: Almost 7 in 10 Americans believe things in the country have spun out of control. That's a problem for President Joe Biden, who campaigned in 2020 offe
Los Angeles Times4 min read
Commentary: Has American Support For Palestinians Reached A Turning Point?
In psychology, there is a phenomenon we refer to as “psychic numbing.” It occurs during times of staggering catastrophe, when it seems however we try, we cannot prevent a tragedy. Indifference and defeat set in. Systems of oppression rely enormously

Related Books & Audiobooks