Playa del Carmen Fire Calls Rise 4% on Carelessness and Uncontrolled Burns

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Fire emergencies in Playa del Carmen have risen 3 to 4 percent this season compared with previous years, driven largely by carelessness inside homes and burns on abandoned lots that spiral out of control, the city’s fire chief said.

Yibi Méndez, director of the Playa del Carmen Fire Department, said a significant share of the calls the agency handles stem from situations that could be prevented, both in households and on unmaintained land. On vacant properties, fires can spread when burns are carried out without enough supervision to keep them contained.

Up to 20 Fires on Abandoned Lots in a Single Month

Méndez said firefighters responded to between 15 and 20 fires on abandoned lots over the past month alone, most of them linked to burns that spread and required intervention by emergency crews.

The rise in calls means more personnel and equipment are deployed to control blazes that can reach nearby properties. The department is urging residents to avoid uncontrolled burns and to cut back on practices that can spark fires, particularly on land covered with vegetation or flammable materials.

According to Méndez, the 3 to 4 percent increase reflects calls recorded during the current season compared with prior years. While the percentage growth is moderate, the cases handled on vacant lots show that carelessness remains a recurring factor behind fire emergencies in Playa del Carmen.