Firefighters on the scene reported that the geography and construction of the sector created a “perfect storm” for the disaster. Many of the dwellings in Pamplona Alta are constructed from highly flammable materials, such as wood, plastic, and repurposed metal, allowing the flames to jump from roof to roof with terrifying speed. The tightly packed nature of the neighborhood also hindered initial access for heavy fire trucks, forcing emergency crews to run long lines of hose up narrow, debris-filled pathways to reach the heart of the blaze.
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