### Local Community vs. Firefighters: Opposition to New Station in La Cacho
Residents of the Madero (Cacho) neighborhood in Tijuana have expressed strong opposition to the plan to build Fire Station No.1 on the municipal property of Plaza del Policía del Área 3. Locals argue that the area is already congested and additional fire trucks would only exacerbate mobility issues.
A resident from Avenida Aguascalientes voiced concerns: “This is already a busy area because it’s both residential and commercial. We have over 900 inhabitants here, not counting visitors. There are also many schools in the vicinity. What will happen when they return from vacation? How will they get out in time? The plot is too small; I don’t think it will accommodate the fire trucks.”
Residents noted that streets like General Ferreira, Jalisco, Hermosillo, and Brasil experience the most congestion, particularly between 7:00 and 9:00 AM, 12:00 and 1:00 PM, and from 5:00 to 7:00 PM due to the presence of 20 schools and 440 businesses, leading to daily traffic from hundreds of vehicles.
In contrast, firefighters from Station No.1 are confident that the new location will not hinder their operations. They mention having straightforward access to Fundadores Boulevard and alternate routes to mitigate traffic issues.
Regarding space, the current plaza measures 300 square meters, half the size of their previous location, which was 600 square meters. Firefighters assured the community that the space is sufficient to house two fire trucks and an ambulance, alongside some dormitories.
During an interview with the Secretary of Municipal Security and Citizen Protection, José Fernando Sánchez González, a resident confronted him stating, “We don’t want them here because we were never consulted.” The resident claimed that no meetings were held to gather community opinions on the relocation of the fire station.
Ironically, a document dated July 26, addressed to the Director of Firefighters, Rafael Carrillo Venegas, indicated meetings with neighboring residents on July 20 and July 25, purportedly in favor of the station’s installation. Attached to the document were several requests from attending residents, such as conducting a soil mechanics study, designing the fire station to suit the area, and addressing traffic issues caused by nearby schools.
Recent disputes in the City Council prevented the purchase of the original plot for the fire station. Consequently, the firefighters were temporarily relocated and are working from the Central Station located on Avenida Alberto Aldrete in Zona Norte. The move has increased response times from 5-12 minutes to 10-17 minutes, affecting coverage across 54 neighborhoods.
No specific date for the operation from the new location has been confirmed, as cleanup and tree relocation efforts are still in progress.
### Additional Update: Other Fire Station Relocation Conflicts
Simultaneously, similar issues are emerging in other locations. For instance, residents in the Tecate area are also raising concerns about the positioning of new public infrastructure.
Moreover, in broader community news, firefighters recently retrieved the body of a man from the sea in Tijuana, highlighting their ongoing essential duties despite internal relocations and administrative disputes.
Municipal authorities, led by Mayor Montserrat Caballero Ramírez, are grappling with these logistical challenges and community pushbacks while attempting to ensure public safety and efficient emergency response services.
Stay tuned for more updates as the situation develops and local governance continues to navigate these pressing community issues.