An elderly woman died Wednesday night after a fire broke out at her home in Mexicali’s ProHogar neighborhood, and two firefighters were hospitalized during the rescue effort.
The blaze started late Wednesday at a residence on Avenida Leona Vicario. Firefighters arrived on the scene and entered the burning structure to rescue the homeowner, who had been trapped inside. Crews pulled the woman from the home and began treatment on the sidewalk.
Paramedics Worked 30 Minutes to Save Her
Paramedics treated the woman for carbon monoxide poisoning at the scene. Despite performing life-saving maneuvers for 30 minutes, emergency responders were unable to revive her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
The fire also injured two members of the responding crew. Rubén Osuna Beltrán, director of the Mexicali Fire Department (Bomberos Mexicali), confirmed that two firefighters were transported to a nearby hospital. They were treated for heat exhaustion and fatigue sustained while battling the blaze.
Cause of Fire Under Investigation
The ProHogar neighborhood sits in central Mexicali, east of the Calexico border crossing. Avenida Leona Vicario is a well-known residential street in the area. The woman’s name has not been publicly released.
Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire. The state prosecutor’s office (Fiscalía General del Estado, or FGE) is leading the investigation. No additional details about the home’s occupants or the circumstances leading to the blaze have been made public.
Mexicali’s fire department has responded to several major incidents in recent months, including a propane truck fire last November and a bar fire in January. The department faces ongoing challenges with limited equipment and staffing in a city of nearly one million residents.
This story was first reported by The Baja Post.