Date: November 25, 2025
Location: San Rafael Arriba de Desamparados, Costa Rica
Topic: Events / National News
The Alert: A Column of Smoke Over the Central Valley
It was 11:18 a.m. on Sunday, November 23, when alarms rang out in the south of the capital. What began as a report of a structural fire quickly turned into an emergency of national magnitude. A dense column of black smoke, visible from several cantons of San José, confirmed the severity of the situation at the Las Brisas Free Zone.
The target of the flames: a 10,000-square-meter warehouse belonging to the automotive company Grupo Q, packed with new vehicles, spare parts, oils, and tires. A combination of highly flammable materials that threatened to unleash an uncontrollable inferno.
The Challenge: Extreme “Fire Load”
Upon the arrival of the first units, they encountered a Dantesque scene. The fire had already compromised more than 50% of the structure, and temperatures were infernal. The presence of fuels and rubber not only fed the flames voraciously but also generated toxic, dense smoke that hindered visibility and breathing.
The imminent risk was not only the loss of the Grupo Q warehouse but the spread of the fire to adjacent industrial buildings, including facilities of the company FIFCO and other distributors.
![Close-up photo of firefighters with high-pressure hoses attacking the flames in front of the collapsed structure]
The Heroic Response: Strategy and Valor
What followed was a demonstration of technical capability and human courage. The Benemérito Fire Department of Costa Rica activated a massive deployment unprecedented in recent times for the area:
- 14 Stations responded to the call.
- More than 100 personnel, including permanent firefighters and volunteers.
- Specialized Hazardous Materials units and paramedics.
- Tanker trucks, platforms, and extinguishing units working in synchrony.
The strategy focused on confining the fire. While one group attacked the heart of the blaze to lower the temperature, other teams created water curtains and defensive barriers to protect neighboring warehouses.
“It was a titanic effort of nearly 7 hours. The collapse of the structure complicated access, but the priority was always the lives of our colleagues and preventing the fire from jumping to neighboring properties,” reported operations sources at the scene.
![Photo of exhausted but standing firefighters, with the smoking background of burnt vehicles]
The Result: Material Losses, Human Victories
After an exhausting day, the fire was brought under control just after 7:00 p.m. The material toll for Grupo Q was devastating: dozens of consumed vehicles and the total loss of the storage structure.
However, the real news is the absence of human tragedies. Thanks to rapid evacuation and the expertise of the firefighters:
- There were no fatalities or serious injuries.
- Thousands of square meters of surrounding infrastructure were saved.
- A major environmental disaster was avoided by containing vehicle fluids.
The incident in Desamparados will be recorded as one of the largest structural fires of 2025, but also as a testament to the bravery of the Benemérito Fire Department. While the fire destroyed steel and concrete, the will of these men and women remained unbreakable, reminding us why they are one of the most beloved and respected institutions in Costa Rica.
Report prepared with official information from the Fire Department and press releases.
