A blaze erupted on Saturday within a residence located on Gasómetro Street, between 4th and 6th Streets, in the Mariana de la Torre neighborhood of Vista Hermosa, Santiago de Cuba. Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reported live from the scene as the fire was eventually extinguished.
According to local residents, the fire started when a pressure cooker was left on the stove while cooking with wood. The home's fragile construction, featuring several wooden structures, allowed the flames to spread rapidly, producing a thick column of black smoke visible from various parts of the city.
Delayed Firefighter Response Causes Alarm
What truly alarmed the neighbors wasn't merely the fire itself but the delay in the response from the Fire Department. Residents reported making multiple calls before any assistance arrived, attempting to combat the blaze themselves in the meantime.
“The firefighters weren't answering the phone, everyone was calling, and I'm here right now; if the fire isn't put out quickly, it's going to spread to the backyards of the houses on the stairway,” warned a local resident who was present at the scene.
Frequent Fires in Santiago de Cuba Highlight Persistent Issues
Eventually, firefighters arrived and managed to control the fire. Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries. As the report was concluded, members of the Fire Department and officers from the National Revolutionary Police remained at the site to assess the damage.
This incident is not an isolated case. Santiago de Cuba has seen at least six significant fires between February and April 2026: in February, a major fire impacted the B-53 building in the José Martí District due to waste burning; in April, another fire destroyed the home of two families on Gallo Street 110, leaving five children homeless; and a third incident forced the evacuation of 12 patients from Saturnino Lora Hospital after an air conditioning compressor failure.
Structural Challenges in Fire Services Across Cuba
The crisis within the fire service is a well-documented structural issue across the island. In Guantánamo, on April 11, firefighters responded to a fire that destroyed at least three homes but ran out of water to combat it. In Havana, residents have resorted to deliberately setting dumpsters on fire to attract firefighters and access water from their tanker trucks.
The broader structural context exacerbates the situation. The national electricity deficit — which reached between 1,630 and 1,945 MW in April, causing blackouts in over 55% of the territory — forces families to cook with wood or charcoal, increasing the risk of domestic fires. Adding to this, five months after Hurricane Melissa, which as a Category 3 storm damaged over 106,500 homes in the province in October 2025, only 17% had been repaired, leaving thousands in precarious structures highly susceptible to fire.
Journalist Mayeta Labrada summed up the stark reality with a concise statement at the end of his report: “The fire spoke for itself.”
Understanding Fire Safety and Response in Cuba
What caused the fire in Santiago de Cuba?
The fire was caused by a pressure cooker left on the stove while cooking with wood, which quickly spread due to the home's fragile wooden structures.
Why was there a delay in the firefighters' response?
Residents reported multiple calls to the Fire Department before receiving a response, raising concerns about the efficiency and readiness of the fire services.
What are the broader challenges faced by the fire services in Cuba?
Cuba's fire services face structural challenges, including a lack of resources, water shortages during emergencies, and increased fire risks due to the national electricity deficit and widespread use of wood for cooking.