---
Milton Tomassini del Toro, the director of the Mayagüez Residential Center for Educational Opportunities (CROEM by its acronym in Spanish), announced Wednesday that the institution was forced to suspend academic work due to a brush fire that threatened the school’s Cerro Las Mesas property in the western coastal city.
The school director also announced the postponement of the 57th CROEM anniversary activities scheduled for this weekend. The event will instead be celebrated on Sunday, March 9 starting at 10 a.m. at the school’s indoor court.
“This is not the first time we have been forced to cancel scheduled activities; however, we regret to inform you that the traditional Feria de Los Pueblos, the CROEMITA Return and the celebration of our institution’s anniversary are suspended for reasons beyond our control, which is why they have been rescheduled,” Tomassini del Toro said in a written statement. “Since Monday we have been affected by a grass fire around the 26 acres of CROEM property, which started in the lower part of Highway 348 in the Rosario Sector below. The wind and high temperature have made it impossible to stop the fire since the presence of dry vegetation serves as natural fuel that encourages combustion at every moment with the winds on this mountain.”
“The agencies, meaning firefighters, the Municipality of Mayagüez and voluntary entities have done their job,” the CROEM director added. “However, we have been informed that the smoke will remain for several days since, as we have said, the combustion of weeds, grasses and existing vegetation are sufficient reason for these materials to continue burning around CROEM. We clarify that no CROEM structure, meaning classrooms, buildings or properties, has been affected by the fire caused by spontaneous combustion. We do not have any affected students since the fire started at a time when they were enjoying a weekend in their homes of origin. As soon as the situation is normalized, the school will announce the return of its students (in person) and the continuation of academic work, which for the moment is being offered through our modern virtual system (internet).”
