Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, August 25, 2026 – Firefighters from Puerto Vallarta and Jalisco’s Costa Norte region were honored by the 12th Naval Zone during a Monday breakfast that brought municipal, state and Navy emergency personnel together at the naval installation.
The Navy’s August 24 statement said guests included members of Puerto Vallarta’s municipal Civil Protection and Fire Department and the Costa Norte regional unit. The ceremony recognized work spanning fire prevention, fire suppression, rescue, public protection and emergency and disaster response.
The zone commander addressed the crews alongside admirals, captains, officers and other naval personnel. He described firefighting as a profession shaped by discipline, sacrifice and service, qualities he said are shared by Navy personnel who respond during coastal emergencies.
The breakfast followed Puerto Vallarta’s own August 22 ceremony at the department’s central station. Municipal personnel received recognitions marking five, 15, 20 and more than 21 years of service. The city also paid tribute to deceased members, distributed protective boots and added two longtime volunteers to the municipal payroll.
Mayor Luis Munguía said the department had one operating vehicle at the beginning of his administration and now has five. He also confirmed construction of a regional fire station near Puerto Vallarta International Airport, a project intended to improve response times across the northern part of the city.
Mexico observes National Firefighters Day each August 22. The date traces back to 1873, when the country’s first fire brigade was established in Veracruz, according to the Puerto Vallarta fire department’s history.
The naval event closed a week that also included recognition based on performance. As PVDN reported last week, Puerto Vallarta’s men’s relay team placed second at the 2026 Jalisco Firefighters Cup, improving from fourth place in 2025.
The ceremonies followed municipal commitments made after the El Gavilán landfill fire in June. The city agreed to provide additional equipment, tools and supplies and review possible incentives tied to the department’s working conditions.
Construction of the airport-area station remains the largest operational project connected to this week’s recognition, extending the focus beyond ceremonies and toward emergency coverage in one of Puerto Vallarta’s fastest-moving areas.
