Informative Bulletin
Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco. Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Sergio Gómez: 20 years fighting forest fires in Tlajo
Checo is an example for their children, who besides being proud of their work and despite the risk they face, think about following their steps
Better known as “Czech”, Sergio Gómez Maravel is in charge of the Forest Civil Protection and fire Brigade of Tlajomulco, which entered the public service in 2005, since then has fought countless forest fires in Tlajomulco and other adjacent municipalities, with the purpose of protection of biodiversity and public health.
Czech mentioned that he receives a lot of moral support from his family towards his profession “I have four children, both they and my wife are very proud of my work, because they tell me they say that it is a great job, because we take care of the environment.”
Sergio Gómez mentioned that if he were not a forest brigadist, he has no idea what he could work on, since after 20 years of serving as a combatant, this activity has become part of his life. He added that his children are interested in devoting themselves to the same activity “It is a risk work and we are available all day and all night when there is some fire.”
The combat of forest fires that are registered inside deep ravines, represents a huge risk to the staff, so they have to perform backward maneuvers, always looking for anchor points, which are safe spaces to prevent them from enclosing them. Gómez Maravel said that one of the events that marked it was “A very strong fire at the La Herradura ranch, in front of the header sports unit, was very strong and nothing was looked at, we did not know where to run, what we did was bed to breathe, fortunately we could leave.”
Czech, like some of his classmates, has the international certification in integral fire management, at the Agua Brava Environmental Education Center, so in case of being required, he is prepared to go to Canada to support forest fires, a situation that would represent one more challenge in his career as a combatant.
The work of the forest brigadistas is very noble, all the fighters carry a good relationship and have excellent coordination, both with the brigades of the State Unit of Civil Protection and Jalisco Firefighters, and those of the Conafor, “when they need us we will lend them the support and when we occupy, they come here to support us,” said Gómez Maravel.
Solomon Molina Zamora, director of Civil Protection and Firefighters of Tlajomulco said that “Czech is a very dear and respected partner within the corporation, to the point that in recognition of his career, a botarga was created with the name” Czech El Lince “, which has been used to promote in children and adolescents, the prevention of forest fires and the care of natural areas.”
