Fire at paint factory causes mass evacuations in Ecatepec de Morelos

On the night of January 23, 2026, a large fire broke out at a factory dedicated to the production and storage of paints located in Ecatepec de Morelos, specifically in the Villas de Guadalupe neighborhood, San Francisco Xalostoc. The industrial site, situated near Avenida Pentatlón and Calle 14, stored large quantities of highly flammable materials, which accelerated the spread of the fire and generated a dense smoke column visible across wide areas of the region.

Municipal President Azucena Cisneros confirmed the incident and reported that the fire involved solvents and chemicals that increased the risk of secondary explosions, significantly complicating firefighting efforts.

Magnitude of the incident and authorities’ operational response

Ecatepec de Morelos Firefighters and Civil Protection personnel responded immediately to the scene equipped with specialized tools to contain the flames. The intensity of the fire required prolonged maneuvers due to the chemical nature of the materials involved, demanding extreme caution to prevent detonations that could affect nearby residential areas.

Operations focused both on extinguishing the fire and preventing collateral damage, a critical priority given that the industrial area is densely populated.

Interagency coordination to contain the emergency

Municipal authorities activated regional support protocols, requesting additional resources from neighboring municipalities and Mexico City. This inter-jurisdictional coordination is crucial in emergencies involving complex chemical components, as experts indicate that such incidents require extra infrastructure due to inherent environmental and health risks.

Citizen protection: safety perimeter and preventive evacuations

To safeguard the population, authorities established a security perimeter covering approximately 19 streets around the fire’s focal point. Preventive evacuations were ordered in nearby homes, while police officers secured access points to ensure the swift passage of emergency vehicles.

Residents were advised to stay away from the area and take household measures such as closing doors and windows to minimize smoke exposure, thereby reducing potential respiratory effects.

Current status: under control and recommendations

As of this report, no victims have been recorded. Firefighting efforts continued while damage assessments were ongoing. There were reports of traffic disruptions on Vía Morelos, with restrictions in several sections.

Civil Protection maintains the active operation and recommends that the public stay away from the area, respect the established safety perimeters, and follow official communications issued by Ecatepec de Morelos authorities as the incident comes under control.