An aluminum-processing machine caught fire Saturday morning at a factory in Parque Industrial Arboledas, located on Calle Cerro Colorado in Tijuana’s Los Pinos zone. The blaze prompted the evacuation of at least 35 workers from an adjacent facility and drew firefighters from four stations across the city. No injuries were reported.
Workers at the factory initially attempted to control the fire with handheld extinguishers, but the efforts proved insufficient. Firefighters arriving on scene deployed specialized chemical suppressants to tackle the aluminum-fueled blaze, which requires different suppression methods than standard fires. Water can cause molten aluminum to explode, making chemical agents the only safe option.
Drone Used for Aerial Assessment
Tijuana’s Civil Protection department deployed a drone to conduct an aerial assessment of the facility. The drone monitored roof temperatures and helped guide firefighters to safe entry points for attacking the fire from within the structure. The technology allowed crews to identify potential structural weaknesses before entering the building.
The 35 evacuated workers came from a neighboring business in the same industrial park. Parque Industrial Arboledas is located in the eastern part of Tijuana, roughly 15 minutes south of the Otay Mesa border crossing. The park is home to numerous maquiladora operations that serve as suppliers for cross-border manufacturing chains linking Baja California to Southern California.
Cause Still Under Investigation
Authorities were still evaluating the extent of the damage and the fire’s cause as of Saturday afternoon. Industrial fires in Tijuana’s manufacturing zones are not uncommon. In August 2023, a massive blaze at a polyurethane factory in the nearby La Mesa and Los Pinos areas forced evacuations and sent toxic smoke over the city, prompting officials to warn residents to stay indoors.
Saturday’s incident was far smaller in scale, contained to a single machine and the surrounding area. The rapid response from four fire stations and the use of drone technology helped prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings in the park.
This story was first reported by Jornada BC.