Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – Coordinated response by Nayarit and Jalisco emergency services contained a fire at Punta Esmeralda complex in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, causing structural damage but no injuries.
A grassland fire in front of the Punta Esmeralda complex in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle’s El Tizate area (Bahía de Banderas, Nayarit) was brought under control after an intense, multi-agency response. Local and state emergency services from Nayarit and Jalisco—together with federal authorities—worked through the day to contain the blaze. Despite severe material damage to three residential towers, no injuries were reported.
Strong gusts of wind carried embers onto thatched roofs, igniting bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and terraces on the upper floors of at least three towers. The fire was first reported via a 911 call, prompting the Nayarit Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection to activate immediate response protocols. Power was disconnected and both guests and residents were evacuated from the affected areas, preventing any human casualties.
Firefighting units from SEDENA, the Nayarit State Fire Department, the Bahía de Banderas Civil Protection Department, the Puerto Vallarta Fire Department, the Vidanta Fire Department, and Jalisco State Civil Protection collaborated in the operation. Motor pumps, water trucks, and a ladder truck from Jalisco played a crucial role in accessing the elevated sections of the complex. After several hours, crews fully contained the fire, though they noted severe structural damage.
One firefighter showing signs of fatigue was treated on-site and did not require hospital transfer. Cooling and hazard-assessment efforts continued throughout the afternoon to prevent any re-ignition. Once the scene was secured, the Nayarit State Attorney General’s Office launched an investigation to determine the exact cause and full extent of the damage.
Thick smoke from the blaze alarmed residents and tourists across the bay, but swift, coordinated action by federal, state and private entities averted a greater tragedy. Jalisco State Civil Protection reiterated that its involvement exemplified effective interstate collaboration in response to emergencies of this scale.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Coordinated response by Nayarit and Jalisco emergency services contained a fire at Punta Esmeralda complex in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, causing structural damage but no injuries.
