What started as an ordinary Saturday in Pamplona Alta, a crowded hillside neighborhood in San Juan de Miraflores, quickly turned into one of the area’s worst recent emergencies. By mid-afternoon, thick columns of smoke rose above the community, signaling a fast-spreading residential fire that caught residents and authorities off guard.
As firefighters rushed in and neighbors tried to help one another escape, panic swept through the narrow streets. The flames moved rapidly from one improvised home to the next — many built from wood, plywood, and other highly flammable materials. Within minutes, entire rows of houses were burning, leaving families scrambling to save whatever they could.
Early reports indicated that dozens, possibly more than a hundred homes, were affected. Hundreds of residents were suddenly left without shelter as emergency crews worked late into the evening to control the blaze and evaluate the destruction.
The terrain made the response even more difficult. Pamplona Alta’s steep slopes and cramped pathways slowed firefighters, who often had to carry equipment by hand. Residents joined in, forming bucket lines and helping elderly neighbors evacuate. Despite these challenges, firefighters managed to stop the flames from spreading into nearby sectors, likely preventing even greater damage.
Although official numbers were still being finalized, authorities estimated that 40 to 120 homes were impacted to varying degrees — from total loss to severe or partial damage. Families gathered in temporary shelters nearby, many holding the few belongings they managed to save. Children were especially shaken by the intense heat, the collapsing structures, and the sight of their homes in flames.