Huge Fire and Explosions Rip Through Tijuana Paint Factory

Smoke envelops the city, seen for miles

By José Sánchez2016-03-01T01:56:40+00:00

TIJUANA.-A paint processing plant belonging to the Sherwin Williams brand, suffered a series of explosions Monday morning, provoking a blaze and column of smoke that could be seen for miles.

The fire started at around 10:30 a.m., ripping through the paint plant located in the Las Misiones Industrial Park in the Otay Centenario district of Tijuana, near the central bus terminal in the eastside of the city.

Foto: Ayuntamiento de Tijuana

There were 20 workers inside the factory, all safely evacuated, as well as 330 workers from nearby companies. Also next to the blaze is the CRIT Teletón center for children with disabilities, which lead pacients and administrative personnel being asked to leave, a total of 150 people.

Streets and roadways next to the plant were closed, causing large amounts of traffic to be diverted elsewhere. The U.S. Consulate in the city is also located near the fire, although there weren't any reports of evacuations being carried out there.

Thankfully, there were no injuries to report and only a few firefighters were being treated for smoke inhalation, although civil protection authorities are warning residents in the area to avoid any outdoor activities until air quality can be determined.

By late afternoon, the fire was almost completely contained.

Residents shared on social media pictures and video of the blaze, visible from almost anywhere in the city:.