Santa Cruz Recycling Plant Fire: Pets Perish in Tragic Blaze

Fire at Santa Cruz Recycling Plant Claims Pets' Lives; Residents Voice Safety Concerns Santa Cruz, Bolivia – A devastating fire ripped through a recycling plant in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on Sunday, June 2nd, 2025, resulting in the tragic loss of several pets. The intense blaze, which began around 4 pm, quickly consumed the facility, prompting immediate action from local firefighters. "The flames were so intense, even the pets couldn't escape," reported Joaquin Matias, a journalist on the scene for Red Uno. Matias described the scene as "a sea of flames" and showed footage of firefighters battling the blaze with large quantities of water. More than 23,000 liters of water were used by a single firetruck, according to Matias. The elderly owner of the recycling plant managed to escape without injury, a fortunate outcome in the face of such devastation. However, the loss of the pets has deeply affected the community. "This isn't the first time we've had fires here," said a nearby resident, expressing concerns about the ongoing risk due to the accumulation of flammable materials at the recycling plant. Local authorities are now investigating the cause of the fire and evaluating potential safety improvements to prevent future incidents. The swift response of the firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to nearby homes, but the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fire safety precautions, especially in areas with high concentrations of flammable materials.