Recurring fires in Mexico

They have recently occurred a number of fires in which many lives as well as high material losses were lost in Mexico.

After the tragic explosion of the Maternity Hospital we had explosions gas leaks in Veracruz, which killed a bystander and damaged several homes. In Tabasco overturning a pipe full of gasoline. The neighbors, unaware of the high risk of an explosion occurred, came to collect fuel. By exploiting the pipeline they were more than 30 wounded and the loss of two lives.

Within days of this tragedy a fire in one of the ships of the Central de Abasto in Mexico City, one of the largest in Latin America arose. The fire was located in the area of ​​supplies of flowers and a short circuit due to the storage area where there were large amounts of flammable materials.

Fortunately there were no injuries, but the material losses were quite substantial.

And the last big fire so far occurred on the premises of one of the largest breweries in the country (Cerveceria Modelo). In the fire area estribas, platforms, wiring production were stored and also two tanks of gas with capacity of 5000 liters each which put at grave risk to staff working there, as well as the locals. There were no injuries but the losses of the company were high. So far it has not identified the cause of the fire.

We have had major fires due to improper handling of the same, poor facilities and lack of alarm and extinguishing media. Why not prevention regulations are properly implemented? If companies and individuals do not meet the standards. Can we wonder, what they expect the authorities to be more demanding and increasing culture of prevention? All associations and mainly NFPA supports this work but not enough without the full interest of the authorities and the public commitment towards fire prevention.

By Antonio Macias