A La Paz businessman is alleging that a fire that destroyed three trucks and caused an estimated 9 million pesos (roughly $450,000 USD) in damage on his downtown storage property was deliberately set.
Francisco Díaz Apodaca told local media that the blaze broke out on June 30 at his roughly 8,000-square-meter lot on Calle Colima in central La Paz. A worker on the property reportedly spotted an unknown individual near the back of the lot who appeared to be dumping trash just minutes before flames erupted.
The fire quickly spread across the storage yard, producing explosions and destroying three trucks before firefighters could bring it under control. Municipal and state police responded alongside fire crews, and it took several hours to fully contain the blaze. No injuries were reported.
Property Owner Points to Real Estate Pressure
Díaz Apodaca believes the fire was connected to the value of his land. He pointed to the property’s location in downtown La Paz, where land prices in Baja California Sur have climbed sharply in recent years as outside investment pours into the state. The 8,000-square-meter lot, about two acres, represents a significant piece of urban real estate in a city where development pressure is intensifying.
He told reporters he suspects the fire was meant to intimidate him or force a sale. His attorney is already working to expand a formal criminal complaint so investigators can identify a suspect and pursue compensation for the losses.
Investigation Underway
The case will likely fall under the jurisdiction of the Fiscalía General del Estado (FGE), the state attorney general’s office, which handles arson investigations in Baja California Sur. As of the day of the fire, no suspects had been named publicly.
La Paz has experienced a real estate boom in recent years, driven in part by remote workers, foreign buyers, and developers eyeing the state capital as an alternative to the more saturated Los Cabos corridor. Commercial and residential land in the downtown core has become increasingly contested.
The fire and its alleged motive are a concrete example of how rising property values can translate into real conflict. Property owners in the region, whether Mexican or foreign, should be aware that land disputes in high-value areas can escalate quickly.
This story was first reported by Colectivo Pericú.