Tijuana, January 24.- The Baja California Department of the Environment issued alerts for poor air quality in Mexicali and Ensenada, while in Tijuana it was classified as "acceptable," although with a moderate risk to health, so it was recommended to limit outdoor physical activity.
In Ensenada and Tijuana, municipalities where air quality is generally good, the pollution was caused by forest and residential fires that were reported yesterday due to the Santa Ana winds. However, in Mexicali, the recurring problem is due to a number of factors.
In Tijuana, according to the Fire Department, seven fires were reported in the last 24 hours—leaving one person dead and 43 homes burned—while another fire in the Otay Mountains, on the San Diego, California, side, also contributed to the pollution, as smoke crossed the border.
But it wasn't just San Diego that contributed to the pollution in Tijuana; Tecate did too, as a fire in the Nueva Colonia Hindú district destroyed more than 2,400 hectares of trees and vegetation. As a result, classes were suspended yesterday and today at all educational levels in schools in Valle de las Palmas and the Magic Town.
