The Cabo San Lucas Fire Department has responded to 2,285 emergency calls so far in 2026, making it the busiest year on record for the volunteer department. May alone accounted for 515 service calls, as the growing resort city at the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula strains the capacity of its first responders.
Of the year-to-date total, 1,229 incidents were handled by fire engines and rescue units. The remaining 1,156 calls involved ambulance services. Common emergencies included traffic accidents, structure fires, gas leaks, and pre-hospital medical care for sick or injured individuals.
Ambulance Shortages Force Fire Trucks Into Medical Roles
On 13 occasions this year, rescue units and fire trucks had to serve as first responders to medical emergencies because no ambulances were available. Crews provided initial medical assistance until additional resources arrived. The temporary shortage points to growing pressure on a department that relies heavily on donations and volunteer staffing.
The Bomberos Voluntarios de Cabo San Lucas, formally known as the Heroico Cuerpo de Bomberos Voluntarios, was founded in 1982. It currently operates with about 60 active firefighters and paramedics across three fire stations. The department is a civil association that depends largely on donated equipment, supplies, and money from residents and businesses.
Fatal Motorcycle Crashes Add to Call Volume
Department ambulances responded to 52 medical emergencies, 65 traffic accidents, and 21 fall-related injuries during the most recent reporting period. Firefighters have also responded to numerous serious motorcycle crashes in recent months, including fatal incidents that have claimed more than a dozen lives across the Los Cabos region.
The spike in emergency calls comes as Los Cabos continues to grow rapidly. Cabo San Lucas and neighboring San José del Cabo together form a metropolitan area of more than 350,000 residents, with millions of tourists visiting each year.
Hurricane Season Training Underway
With the 2026 Pacific hurricane season now underway, the department is actively training hotel and business staff on tropical cyclone preparedness. Los Cabos sits in one of the most hurricane-exposed zones on Mexico’s Pacific coast, and the region has experienced major storms in recent years.
The record call numbers were first reported by Gringo Gazette on June 6.