The Cuban firefighter injured while battling the blaze at the Girón Building in Havana last Saturday is recovering well. "I just spoke with the injured firefighter Harold Rodríguez Ávila. He is out of danger and feels ready," announced pro-government communicator Henry Omar Pérez on Facebook.
Harold suffered from heat stroke during the fire and needed hospitalization, though his life was not in jeopardy. The fire erupted Saturday morning in the fifth-floor utility shaft of the Girón Building, located at Malecón and F streets. Smoke was visible from several points around the city.
Governor Yanet Hernández Pérez informed that, besides the firefighter, six other people were hospitalized, all of whom have been discharged. She also noted that 190 people were evacuated, including 17 minors and four disabled individuals, to nearby centers or neighbors' homes.
The Girón Building houses 132 apartments, accommodating around 600 residents. The Municipal Administration Council of Plaza de la Revolución stated that those not needing hospital transfer, along with minors and four elderly adults, were evacuated to the Ministry of Tourism's (MINTUR) local 5.
By midday, official journalist Lázaro Manuel Alonso confirmed that firefighters had controlled the blaze and praised their efforts. According to Carlos Espinosa Betancourt, who shared photos on the Facebook group "Maravilloso Malecón", an official from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) said the fire was controlled but not fully extinguished due to lingering smoke.
The scene was attended by Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Major General Ramón Pardo Guerra, Chief of Civil Defense, among other leaders.
Havana's Girón Building Fire: Key Details and Updates
In light of the recent fire at the Girón Building in Havana, here are some crucial questions and answers regarding the incident and its aftermath.
What caused the fire at the Girón Building?
The fire started in the fifth-floor utility shaft of the Girón Building. The exact cause of the fire has not been disclosed yet.
How many people were affected by the fire?
A total of 190 people were evacuated, including 17 minors and four disabled individuals. Seven people, including the firefighter, were hospitalized but have since been discharged.
Who responded to the fire at the Girón Building?
Firefighters, officials from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), and top government leaders, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and Major General Ramón Pardo Guerra, were present at the scene.