Fire in the historic center of Lima
On March 3, 2025, a large-scale fire hit the historic Barrios Altos neighborhood in Lima, Peru.
The blaze began in an eight-story building used as a warehouse for goods intended for trade in the Mesa Redonda area. The presence of flammable materials and the precarious conditions of the surrounding buildings facilitated the rapid spread of the flames, leading to the collapse of four structures and the risk of collapse of two others.
apnews.com
The extinguishing operations were complex and involved more than 50 fire engines and 400 firefighters, with the fire not being declared under control until March 9.
No casualties were reported, but at least 17 people were treated for smoke inhalation and several families were forced to leave their homes. Authorities have launched investigations to determine the cause of the fire and assess responsibilities related to the safety conditions of the buildings involved.
The fire that hit the historic center of Lima, specifically the Barrios Altos neighborhood, affected a very central and historical area of the Peruvian capital. This neighborhood is known for its colonial architecture and historical importance, being one of the oldest areas of Lima. Barrios Altos is famous for its traditional buildings, lively markets and the presence of many commercial activities, often characterized by wholesale stores.
The Mesa Redonda market, located nearby, is one of the most well-known landmarks in the area and one of the most affected areas. This market is very crowded and known for trading in everything from clothing to electronics. The area is also very busy, with narrow streets and a high concentration of buildings, many of which are old and built without strict compliance with modern building codes.
The combination of old buildings and the presence of easily flammable materials (such as those in warehouses) has made this area particularly vulnerable to fires. The density of buildings and the difficulty of access for emergency vehicles further complicated the extinguishing operations, with the flames spreading rapidly between adjacent structures.
In general, the affected area is characterized by a mixture of residential and commercial buildings, with a high daily activity, making it one of the most vital areas but also the most vulnerable to incidents like this.
Lima has experienced at least two significant fires in 2001 and 2023.
While for fires on an urban scale there are models for simulating the evacuation of people, such as the one developed by the University of Greenwich – FSEG, for the propagation of fires between buildings (which in many cases concerns historic centres) we have not found consolidated models.
