City had warned swap meet of potential fire hazards before fire

Calexico officials said they’ve had many operational concerns over a local swap meet for some time. It burned this weekend.

Officials said they gave an extensive list of operational issues to management of Santo Tomas Swap Meet early this year. The list included electrical issues. They said they have no proof those issues were fixed.

A 4-alarm fire destroyed dozens of swap meet businesses on Saturday, affecting hundreds of vendors and workers. Some losing thousands of dollars in merchandise. An investigation is ongoing with local agencies, IID and Department of Toxic Substances Control.

City officials said it’s the business owner’s responsibility to fix any operational deficiency. However, they admit they could have enforced code regulations with fines, which they didn’t.

The city’s allowing vendors to use their business licenses to work in other local swap meets and are looking at other options to help them.

Council Member Bill Hodge said, “There’s a possibility, it’s not definite, that we might strategize and put some tents over at the far side of the swap meet, and those vendors that have a business license and insurance, they’re legally legit, can sell their goods. We’re going to work on that.”

We reached out to Santo Tomas Swap Meet management for comment but they were not available.

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