Ten Tijuana firefighters rescued a 34-year-old woman who fractured her ankle while descending Cerro Colorado on the night of April 30. The woman suffered the injury on the trail after dark, prompting a nighttime operation on the hillside in eastern Tijuana.
Firefighters reached the injured hiker on the trail, provided first aid at the scene, and assisted her down the steep terrain. Once she reached the base of the hill, Red Cross paramedics took over and transported her by ambulance to a local hospital for evaluation.
Popular Trail Turns Dangerous After Dark
Cerro Colorado is one of Tijuana’s most popular hiking spots, drawing locals and visitors to its trails on the city’s east side. The hill is a well-known landmark, and its slopes have also been the site of past brush fires that required firefighter response.
The rescue took place during the descent, when ankle and knee injuries are most common on uneven terrain. Low-light conditions added complexity to the operation, requiring the 10-member crew to navigate the hillside at night.
Safety Reminders for Baja Hikers
The incident is a practical reminder for hikers in the Tijuana area. Trails on Cerro Colorado can be rocky and uneven, and descending in darkness increases the risk of falls. Hikers planning to tackle Cerro Colorado or similar trails in Baja should time their outings to complete the descent before sunset. Carrying a headlamp, basic first aid supplies, and a charged phone can make a significant difference in an emergency.
Telling someone your planned route and expected return time is another basic precaution that speeds up rescue operations when something goes wrong.
The woman’s condition after arriving at the hospital was not disclosed, though the injury was described as a fracture rather than a more severe trauma.
This story was first reported by Punto Norte on May 1.