Tijuana.- A fire destroyed 16 houses Monday and prompted the evacuation of 80 people from two crowded southeastern neighborhoods, municipal authorities reported.

The evacuated families were taken to a shelter the city opened at a sports complex in the Río zone.

The fire department reported that dry grass and trash began burning around 10:30 a.m. in

Ampliación Tejamen, a barrio located about 15 minutes from the downtown area.

Strong winds, high temperatures and dry brush fueled the fire, which spread to neighboring Lomas del Rubí, where it consumed 16 houses, according to the fire department.

By mid-day, smoke from the fire had reached the downtown sector.

Authorities reported that the fire was controlled by 6:30 p.m. Firefighters from six Tijuana stations, assisted by firefighting three units from Rosarito Beach, battled the blaze. At one point, neighbors worked together passing buckets of water to douse the flames.

Municipal authorities said that 20 women, 17 men, 13 adolescents and 30 children had lost their homes in the fire.

Carlos Martínez, Tijuana’s fire chief, urged residents to be extra careful during what was beginning to be the hot, dry season and to immediately report any fire threat to authorities.