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La Victoria Fire Exposes Clandestine E-Bike and Lithium Battery Warehouse

Officials now probe a clandestine home used as a hazardous warehouse.

Overview

  • A código 2 blaze on Tuesday in La Victoria was contained by roughly 40–50 firefighters using 9–10 units, with no reported human casualties.
  • Inside the building, responders found a concealed space of about 300 square meters partitioned into small rooms storing electric bicycles, lithium-ion batteries and pyrotechnics.
  • Fire crews tore down unstable walls to secure the scene; nearby homes did not burn but sustained water infiltration damage.
  • Municipal authorities say the site operated without authorization inside a private residence, which they cannot routinely inspect without a judicial order or a formal neighbor complaint.
  • Police and the fire service are investigating the origin, including a worker’s claim that a discarded cigarette ignited materials, as the district prepares a post-confinement inspection that could lead to fines up to 2 UIT or closure.