Authorities from the three levels of government intensified work at the El Gavilán landfill on Friday. The fire had burned for more than 24 hours. It was still driving smoke concerns across Puerto Vallarta.
The operation included 66 personnel, 31 vehicles, heavy machinery, and air support from the Witari helicopter, according to a public update from Protección Civil Jalisco. Crews were working on containment, water cooling, earth cover, and removal of solid waste. The goal was to smother hot spots and stop the fire from spreading.
The fire began Thursday morning, May 28, at the landfill in El Colorado. Jalisco environmental authorities activated an atmospheric emergency at about half past seven in the morning. A dense plume had become visible from several parts of the city, according to state response information cited in public reports.
No confirmed cause had been made public by the latest updates reviewed for this article. That leaves the central question unanswered while crews are still working the site.
Tire smoke shaped the emergency
Early accounts placed the fire in the area where old tires were stored. That detail changed the response. Tire fires burn hot, produce dense black smoke, and can resist fast suppression.
EPA says waste tires are difficult to extinguish once they are burning. Its tire-fire guidance says “smothering a tire fire with dirt or sand is usually the best option.” That matches the use of earth and heavy machinery at El Gavilán.
Open tire fires can release fine particles, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds. They can also release PAHs, dioxins, furans, benzene, PCBs, and metals, according to an EPA emissions review. Those pollutants explain why the plume was treated as a health concern rather than a visibility problem.
The same fuel source was noted in the first account of Thursday’s smoke over Puerto Vallarta. The fire was reported in the tire storage area, and firefighters requested additional support.
Classes were suspended in nearby zones
The smoke pushed the response beyond the landfill by midmorning. Jalisco Education Secretary Juan Carlos Flores Miramontes said, “In-person classes are suspended for the morning shift and outdoor activities in the areas indicated by authorities, as a preventive measure to protect the health of the entire educational community.”
The suspension applies to El Colorado, Los Ángeles, El Zancudo, Verde Valle, Colinas del Valle, Ecoterra Paraíso, La Arboleda, Colonia Las Rosas, Ojo de Agua, and nearby areas, according to the public school notice tied to the emergency.
Authorities also urged people in affected areas to avoid outdoor activity. They asked people to follow civil protection updates while the plume remained a concern. No injuries had been reported in the early response information reviewed, though the fire remained active in later updates.
A repeat site amid a strained trash system
El Gavilán has burned before. In June 2024, a fire at the municipal dump was also reported in the tire accumulation area, according to a Vallarta Daily archive report.
That history narrows the issue now facing city officials. The pending questions concern tire storage, combustible materials, and inspections prior to the fire. Authorities also need to document the cause after the site is safe enough to review.
The fire also comes after months of pressure on Puerto Vallarta’s trash system. Recent problems have included missed pickup complaints, a brief worker stoppage, and broader infrastructure strain. The landfill fire adds an air-quality emergency to a service problem that was already visible in neighborhoods.
How to reduce smoke exposure
Public health guidance for heavy smoke is direct. The CDC says staying inside is best during smoke events. If going outside cannot be avoided, it recommends a tightly fitted NIOSH-approved respirator such as an N95 or P100.
EPA indoor-smoke guidance recommends keeping windows and doors closed. It also recommends limiting indoor activities that create particles. When possible, air conditioning should be set to recirculation. A portable air cleaner or high-efficiency filter can also reduce indoor smoke exposure.
People with asthma, heart disease, chronic lung disease, children, older adults, and pregnant people face a higher risk during heavy smoke exposure. Anyone with trouble breathing, chest tightness, dizziness, severe eye or throat irritation, or worsening respiratory symptoms should seek medical attention.
By Friday, the firefighting operation remained focused on cooling, containment, and suppressing hot spots inside the landfill. Authorities had not publicly confirmed what started the fire.
