The municipal president of Tijuana, Ismael Burgueño, declared a state of alarm due to the 'Santa Ana condition,' characterized by strong desert winds in the northern region of Baja California. Burgueño expressed the need to take immediate measures to protect the population from this extraordinary situation that has caused fires in properties, environmental damage, and risks to the safety of citizens.
Municipal authorities called on the population to exercise extreme caution and follow the recommendations of Civil Protection. The Municipal Council is coordinating efforts to reduce damage and prioritize attention in the most vulnerable areas, highlighting citizen collaboration as key in this emergency.
The Civil Protection Directorate issued an urgent alert for residents of the Leandro Valle neighborhood to evacuate the area and wear masks constantly, especially after a fire in that neighborhood left 30 houses damaged, one person deceased, and several injured. Despite the tragedy, Tijuana firefighters rescued a newborn baby trapped in the flames.
During the day, emergency services responded to 24 incidents related to the Santa Ana condition, including a wildfire in Villas del Prado and a small fire in a factory in Otay, which were controlled without reporting injuries. Santa Ana winds, a common phenomenon in Tijuana during autumn and winter, pose a risk of fires, structural damage, and air quality issues, presenting a danger to the region.
