An elderly man known to neighbors as “Don Cuco” died Wednesday afternoon when fire destroyed his makeshift dwelling along the embankment of the Ensenada arroyo in the city’s downtown core.
Emergency responders found the man’s charred remains beneath the rubble of the burned structure near Calle Mar, between Cuarta and Juárez streets. The location sits just blocks from the tourist corridor and central commercial district.
Neighbors Identify the Victim
Residents of the area identified the victim as an older man who earned a living washing cars and collecting recyclable materials. According to neighbors, Don Cuco had lived in the informal settlement along the arroyo for several years, beside a building belonging to the PRD (Party of the Democratic Revolution) political party. He shared the encampment with his son.
The initial report did not confirm whether the son was present at the time of the fire or has been located since. The cause of the blaze also remains unknown.
Informal Settlements Line the Arroyo
The Ensenada arroyo is a concrete drainage channel that runs through the heart of the city, crossing under major avenues before emptying into the bay. Makeshift shelters built from tarps, plywood, and scavenged materials line its embankments in several stretches of the downtown area. These informal camps house some of Ensenada’s most vulnerable residents, including day laborers, people who collect recyclables, and others without stable housing.
Fire risk in these settlements is high. The structures are built from flammable materials, and many occupants use open flames or improvised electrical connections for heat and cooking. The arroyo’s concrete walls can funnel wind, spreading flames quickly between shelters.
The intersection where the fire occurred is located roughly five blocks south of the waterfront Malecón and the First Street tourist zone. Visitors walking or driving through central Ensenada will recognize the area near the arroyo crossing on Juárez, one of the city’s main north-south avenues.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities have not released the victim’s full legal name or age. No details about a formal investigation into the fire’s origin have been made public. Emergency crews responded to the scene Wednesday but provided limited information beyond confirming the death.
This story was first reported by Ensenada.net.