The fire began as a thin wisp of smoke rising from the tightly packed homes on the hillside of Pamplona Alta in San Juan de Miraflores. At first, residents assumed it was just another minor flare-up in an area accustomed to electrical issues. But when the wind shifted, the flames jumped rapidly from one fragile structure to another, turning plywood walls and plastic roofs into fuel.

Within minutes, the blaze grew uncontrollable. Families sprinted through the narrow pathways, shouting warnings and trying to gather children and belongings. Smoke rolled down the hillside in heavy gray sheets that darkened the afternoon sky, leaving people disoriented as they struggled to escape.

By the time emergency crews arrived, dozens of homes had already been destroyed. For families who had slowly built their homes piece by piece, the devastation was overwhelming. Firefighters worked relentlessly to contain the blaze, joined by residents who passed buckets and cleared burning debris in desperate attempts to slow the spread.

Then came the explosions. As the fire reached a small structure at the center of the neighborhood, a series of sharp blasts ripped through the area. Firefighters soon discovered the building had been an illegal pyrotechnics workshop filled with fireworks and chemicals, which intensified the fire and sent debris flying across the hillside.

After hours of effort, crews finally managed to control the flames. But the losses were everywhere. Families searched through ashes for anything salvageable, while others stood empty-handed, watching the remnants of their homes smolder. Volunteers and relief teams arrived with water, masks, blankets, and medical care for those suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.

Authorities began assessing the destruction, estimating that hundreds of homes may have been affected. Investigators focused on the workshop, trying to determine its role in the disaster and how the explosions accelerated the fire’s spread.

As night fell, the community gathered amid the ruins—grieving, supporting one another, and holding onto what little remained. In the face of devastation, solidarity became their first step toward rebuilding.