An electrical fire broke out Sunday afternoon at the Elektra store on the corner of Ocampo and Revolución streets in downtown La Paz, forcing the evacuation of workers and customers. Firefighters and municipal police responded quickly to the scene, closing surrounding streets and containing the blaze before it could spread beyond the roof of the building. No injuries were reported.
Short Circuit in Roof Transformers Sparked the Blaze
The fire originated in transformers mounted on the store’s roof, caused by an electrical short circuit. Emergency crews contained the flames to the rooftop electrical equipment, preventing damage to merchandise or the interior of the building.
Municipal police cordoned off surrounding blocks in La Paz’s centro histórico while firefighters worked to extinguish the fire. Authorities urged the public to stay away from the area during the response. The intersection of Ocampo and Revolución sits just a few blocks south of the Malecón waterfront, in one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors.
Elektra Store Located in La Paz’s Historic Core
Elektra is one of Mexico’s largest retail chains, owned by Grupo Salinas, and the downtown La Paz location sells electronics, appliances, and furniture. The store sits in the city’s historic core, where many commercial buildings date back decades. Older structures in this zone often rely on aging electrical infrastructure that can be vulnerable to overloads and equipment failure.
La Paz has a separate Elektra location on Boulevard Forjadores in the Los Olivos neighborhood, but that store was not affected by Sunday’s incident. It remains unclear when the downtown location will reopen or what repairs the rooftop electrical system will require.
BCS Noticias reported that authorities recommended residents avoid the area to allow emergency protocols to proceed. Colectivo Pericú also confirmed the rapid mobilization of firefighters to the scene, according to Colectivo Pericú.