Tijuana Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz announced a 53 million peso (approximately $2.9 million USD) investment in firefighting equipment on Tuesday, April 7, one day after roughly 70 firefighters staged a peaceful protest at City Hall demanding better pay and working conditions.
The XXV City Council and the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection framed the announcement as a commitment to strengthening the fire department with essential gear. Specific details about the equipment purchases were not disclosed.
Firefighters Earn as Little as $190 USD Per Pay Period
The protest on Monday, April 6, saw approximately 70 “trusted” (non-union) firefighters gather at the esplanade of the Municipal Palace. They demanded a 30 percent salary increase, formal base positions, and compliance with commitments city authorities had previously signed.
Protesters reported receiving biweekly salaries between 3,500 and 4,500 pesos (roughly $190 to $245 USD). They called those wages insufficient given the physical risks of the job. The firefighters specifically demanded salary “homologation,” a process that would standardize their pay to match comparable public safety roles.
Equipment Deal Does Not Address Pay Demands
The 53 million peso announcement is notable for what it does not include. The firefighters’ core grievance, low biweekly wages, remains unaddressed by an equipment purchase. Salary homologation and base allocation were the two central demands of Monday’s demonstration.
Tijuana’s fire department has experienced recurring labor tensions under the current administration. The pattern of protests over pay equity has been documented multiple times in recent months. Burgueño, who also navigated citywide security concerns earlier this year following cartel-related arson attacks in February, has faced pressure on multiple public safety fronts.
Tijuana’s fire department serves a metropolitan area of more than two million residents. Response capacity is a particular concern in hillside colonias and areas near the San Ysidro border crossing, where dense development and limited road access can complicate emergency response.
The story was first reported by Zeta Tijuana.