Tulum, Q.R. — Firemen were at the scene of a late night blaze on Andrómeda Street in downtown Tulum Tuesday. The fire, which started inside a minimart around midnight, spread fast affecting apartments on the third floor of the building.
Due to the fast spreading fire, authorities were forced to evacuate the entire building.
Prior to the arrival of firemen, two people from inside the store used extinguishers to try and quell flames. Due to the rapidly growing fire, the extinguishers were not helpful.
Municipal authorities evacuated the building and began the task of putting out the bottom floor fire. While no human casualties were reported, material losses were significant.
The minimart was completely gutted by the fire and the upper floors heavily damaged.
Manuel Castilla James, the Director of the Tulum Fire Department, emphasized the importance of having adequate security measures in commercial establishments and residential buildings.
Castilla James called on the owners and managers of these buildings not to neglect the maintenance of their facilities and to review their fire prevention systems. Castilla James did not say how the minimart fire started.
