A fire tore through an informal settlement in Valle Verde, East Tijuana, on March 18, destroying at least eight wooden structures and displacing residents along two side streets. The blaze broke out around 10:50 a.m. between Cooperación and Dinamismo streets, and no injuries or deaths were reported.
25 Firefighters From Four Stations Responded
Tijuana Fire Chief Juan Gómez said 25 firefighters from four stations responded to contain the fire in Valle Verde. The wooden construction typical of informal settlements in eastern Tijuana allowed flames to jump quickly between structures. Crews focused on preventing the blaze from spreading beyond the eight homes already engulfed.
The cause remains under investigation. Gómez urged residents to take precautions during periods of high temperatures and to avoid burning trash near residential areas, a common practice in informal colonias that has sparked previous fires.
Tijuana’s Informal Settlements Face Recurring Fire Risk
Valle Verde sits in the hilly terrain east of central Tijuana, where thousands of families live in self-built wooden homes on unpaved streets. These settlements often lack adequate water pressure for firefighting, and narrow roads can slow emergency vehicle access. The World Bank’s ThinkHazard tool classifies Tijuana’s wildfire risk as “high,” meaning there is greater than a 50% chance in any given year of weather conditions that could support a significant fire.
Tijuana has faced multiple devastating fires in recent years. In January 2025, strong Santa Ana winds fueled a brush fire that also destroyed eight homes and forced evacuations in the city, coinciding with the catastrophic wildfire season across Southern California. That blaze spread rapidly due to drought conditions and extreme winds.
Informal settlements are especially vulnerable because structures are built from scrap wood, cardboard, and other flammable materials. Residents often rely on makeshift electrical connections and open flames for cooking, both of which increase fire risk.
Gómez said fire officials will continue monitoring conditions in Valle Verde. The investigation into the March 18 fire is ongoing, according to Punto Norte.