Fire during a school celebration
The fire broke out Wednesday at Teodomiro Manzano High School in Huasca de Ocampo, where Zaira and her classmates were presenting their Day of the Dead outfits. According to La Silla Rota's October 29, 2026, report, the gathering appeared to be a costume contest, with at least 10 participants on a stage decorated with an altar and lit candles.
Zaira's gold-colored dress, made from dried tamale leaves, caught fire when it touched a candle on a table behind the stage. A nearby male student tried to beat out the flames at the back of her dress with his bare hands, but they continued spreading.
The roughly minute-long video shows students and other bystanders trying to extinguish the fire with jackets. Two school staff members helped Zaira off the stage. As she moved back toward the stage area, the master of ceremonies urged the crowd to stay calm. Someone eventually poured a bucket of water over her, extinguishing the remaining flames.
Specialized treatment and a family appeal
Zaira was initially taken to a children's medical facility in Huasca de Ocampo before receiving specialized care in Mexico City. La Silla Rota reported that she was stabilized at Hospital del Niño DIF in Pachuca before her transfer to Hospital Magdalena de las Salinas, which has a dedicated burn-treatment area.
According to the outlet, her family worked with Hidalgo's Secretariat of Public Education (SEPH) and the Huasca municipal government to arrange the transfer.
Her father, José Osorio, appealed on social media for contributions toward her hospital bills and continuing treatment. He described her condition as delicate, requiring constant medical attention, and said the already high costs were increasing each day.
The family also sought help finding 10 blood donors, La Silla Rota reported on October 29. The outlet published a donation account number, 4027 6658 8571 5681, under the name José Rogelio Osornio Lira. Alongside financial assistance, the family has called for attention, accountability and support.
Education authorities investigate
Hidalgo's education authorities said they opened an investigation Wednesday to establish how the fire occurred. In its statement, SEPH also pointed to school safety guidelines that prohibit fire during school activities, according to October 29 reports by El Gráfico and La Silla Rota.
Zaira's father alleged that authorities had not yet contacted the family with updates or offers of support.
