An 18-year-old resident suffered first- and second-degree burns to his hand and face after trying to fight a house fire in Tijuana’s Lomas de San Antonio neighborhood on Thursday morning, April 16. The young man attempted to battle the blaze on his own before firefighters could reach the hillside colonia in the Santa Fe area.
Paramedics treated the teen at the scene before transporting him to a hospital. The cause of the fire has not been disclosed.
Wooden Home a Total Loss
Twelve firefighters from two stations responded to the call. They brought the fire under control, but the roughly 10-by-8-meter (about 33-by-26-foot) wooden structure was completely destroyed. Nothing inside the home was salvageable.
The Lomas de San Antonio neighborhood sits on one of Tijuana’s steep hillsides east of the city center. Like many colonias in the Santa Fe delegation, homes there are often built from wood and other lightweight materials. Streets are narrow and sometimes unpaved, which can slow emergency vehicles.
Fire Risk in Hillside Colonias
House fires are a recurring hazard in Tijuana’s hillside communities. Just last month, five homes burned in the Leandro Valle neighborhood in a separate incident. Dense construction, limited water infrastructure, and restricted road access make these areas especially vulnerable to fast-spreading fires.
Authorities have repeatedly warned residents not to attempt to fight structural fires themselves. In this case, the 18-year-old’s injuries show why: even a brief exposure to flames inside a burning wooden structure can cause serious burns. Fire officials advise residents to evacuate immediately and call 911 rather than confront a blaze directly.
The Santa Fe delegation, in Tijuana’s eastern hills, is home to dozens of colonias with similar construction. Many lack formal fire hydrants, forcing crews to rely on water carried in their trucks. Response times can stretch longer than in flat, paved sections of the city.
No other injuries were reported in Thursday’s fire. The teen’s current condition has not been updated by authorities.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte.