Historic La Perla Department Store Destroyed by Fire

03PM MDT 10/12/06 In a fire that burned for nearly half of the day the historic La Perla Department Store in El Centro, La Paz, B.C.S was virtually destroyed. Although breaking news is not our thing at the BajaInsider, this event unfolded right under our noses.

In a blaze that began shortly after the store opened at 10AM both floors of the nearly block long building were gutted. It was evident from looking in the windows, into the bowels of the building that there would be little salvageable merchandise inside.

According to witnesses on the street, the fire may have started when sparks from a welder fell from the roof to the second floor of the store. Once the garments in the store were ignited the blaze spread quickly. Flames leapt three stories above the two story department store at the peak of the blaze.

According to police on the scene, all persons in the building at the time of the fire were safely evacuated. With most of the La Paz Fire Department on scene there was extensive support from military and private water tankers. Armed members of the Mexican military were assisting local police in security on scene.

The La Perla Department Store is part of the Centro Comercial Californiano group, owned by various members of the Rufo family. The history of the store goes back to 1860 when it was the trading arm of the CCC pearling industry here in La Paz. Other well know stores in the La Perla family are Microsytemas, CCC grocery store and Columbia Exports

The store was originally located on the Malecon in a building that still stands just to the north of the bandstand area.

The building's period architecture was an asset to the atmosphere of downtown and extensive remodeling had been going on over the last few months.

One manager with whom I spoke understandably had no idea whether the store would rebuild downtown.

Tomas

The La Perla building from the south overlooking the addition to the original building. Contents of both sections appeared destroyed.

Firefighters from the city, left, and from the Navy, right. fought the fire for more than 6hrs. A few firefighters were treated for  minor smoke inhalation.

Lack of water and very narrow streets in this older section of town hampered firefighters efforts.

Firefighter moving between floors tries to hose some of the soot off the historic La Perla building.