Disasters · León industrial fireLeon chemical fire: Explosions force about 1,000 people from homesAired October 24, 2026 at 4:17 PM UTCWritten October 24, 2026 at 4:21 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Explosions hurled burning sheet metal into the street and forced about 1,000 people0:11from their homes.0:12The fire erupted inside a residential neighborhood in Leon, putting nearby homes in0:16the path of flying debris.0:18Officials say one person was injured.0:20The unresolved issue is whether residents have been cleared to go home.0:23Civil protection teams evacuated about 1,000 people during the fire on Friday,0:27October 23.0:29That's an approximate emergency total.0:31It doesn't tell us how many people were still away from home the following day.0:34The burning building stood on Calabahia, near Rio Amarillo, in the San Nicolas0:38neighborhood of Leon, Guanajuato.0:41The evacuation covered an estimated 10 blocks.0:44That describes the emergency evacuation area rather than the boundary of any0:48restrictions today.0:49The danger reached beyond the building's walls.0:52Debris and burning metal landed in the street while civil protection teams moved0:56people out of nearby homes.0:57Firefighters fought the flames with the Army and National Guard also among the1:01responders.1:02Explosions reportedly came every three to five minutes for about three hours.1:06Flames reached an estimated 20 meters.1:08Those estimates convey the scale of the fire, while the flying debris explains the1:12immediate danger to people outside.1:20Leon's public security department said one person was injured and taken for1:24specialist care.1:25Mayor Alejandra Gutierrez also confirmed that one person was receiving medical1:30attention.1:30She didn't give a detailed account of the person's condition.1:33The official count remains one injured person.1:36A separate, unofficial claim puts the number at two people with serious burns.1:39Other coverage gives conflicting injury figures within the same article.1:43The higher count and detailed burn claims remain unconfirmed.1:45The building was associated with solvents, chemical products, and materials for the1:50footwear industry.1:51Its precise use is unclear.1:54Descriptions range from a factory to a warehouse, and nobody has confirmed exactly1:58which chemicals were inside or in what quantities.2:01That leaves the chemical risk unresolved.2:03Officials haven't released incident-specific air sampling results.2:07that would show what people nearby were breathing.2:09Firefighters were still struggling to control the flames at 6.15 that evening.2:13The reported extinguishment times conflict.2:15One places it at about 7.40 p.m., another at about 8.40.2:20An exact endpoint hasn't been confirmed.2:22Civil protection personnel guarded the area after the flames were put out.2:26The emergency call came at around 5 that afternoon.2:29Although the fire may have started earlier, investigators still need to determine2:33the cause.2:33By October 24th, it still wasn't clear whether all evacuated residents had2:38permission to return.2:39Returning safely depends on an access decision and a site assessment.2:43Civil protection's presence after the fire doesn't provide that all clear.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗