Massive Fire Devastates Structures and Vehicles in San Pedro de Montes de Oca
A fire destroyed a large commercial and residential area in San José, Costa Rica, affecting businesses and households while being contained by a large firefighting effort.
On the night of January 20, 2025, a significant fire broke out in San Pedro de Montes de Oca, a district in San José, Costa Rica.
The blaze consumed approximately 4,500 square meters of structures, including a three-story building and two apartments, resulting in the destruction of at least 25 vehicles that were parked on the premises.
The incident occurred at around 11:10 p.m. local time near the commercial area of Muñoz y Nanne.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the rapid response of firefighters prevented any casualties.
A total of 75 firefighters from multiple units worked tirelessly for over 12 hours to bring the fire under control, managing to save 42 surrounding structures, which included both residential homes and commercial businesses.
Rescue efforts were complicated by the contents of the warehouse involved, which housed highly flammable materials such as lubricants, oils, and lithium batteries, according to Luis Salas, a representative of the fire department.
These hazardous conditions intensified the fire, which reached temperatures exceeding 900 degrees Celsius.
Residents in the area were alerted to the fire by neighbors and noise from the scene, prompting emergency evacuations.
Many local residents and students vacated the area as a precaution, and access roads were closed to aid firefighting efforts.
The blaze severely weakened the integrity of concrete slabs and steel beams in affected buildings, causing concern among nearby residents.
Despite the danger, the effective coordination of the firefighting teams ensured that the fire did not spread further.
As of the morning following the incident, the fire had been contained, although teams remained on-site to extinguish residual hotspots.
This fire has been identified as one of the largest to occur in the region over the last seventeen years, ranking as the eleventh largest in Costa Rica over that period, according to Héctor Chaves of the national fire department.
Investigators are continuing their efforts to determine the exact origin and cause of the blaze.
The blaze consumed approximately 4,500 square meters of structures, including a three-story building and two apartments, resulting in the destruction of at least 25 vehicles that were parked on the premises.
The incident occurred at around 11:10 p.m. local time near the commercial area of Muñoz y Nanne.
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the rapid response of firefighters prevented any casualties.
A total of 75 firefighters from multiple units worked tirelessly for over 12 hours to bring the fire under control, managing to save 42 surrounding structures, which included both residential homes and commercial businesses.
Rescue efforts were complicated by the contents of the warehouse involved, which housed highly flammable materials such as lubricants, oils, and lithium batteries, according to Luis Salas, a representative of the fire department.
These hazardous conditions intensified the fire, which reached temperatures exceeding 900 degrees Celsius.
Residents in the area were alerted to the fire by neighbors and noise from the scene, prompting emergency evacuations.
Many local residents and students vacated the area as a precaution, and access roads were closed to aid firefighting efforts.
The blaze severely weakened the integrity of concrete slabs and steel beams in affected buildings, causing concern among nearby residents.
Despite the danger, the effective coordination of the firefighting teams ensured that the fire did not spread further.
As of the morning following the incident, the fire had been contained, although teams remained on-site to extinguish residual hotspots.
This fire has been identified as one of the largest to occur in the region over the last seventeen years, ranking as the eleventh largest in Costa Rica over that period, according to Héctor Chaves of the national fire department.
Investigators are continuing their efforts to determine the exact origin and cause of the blaze.
