House Marked by Tragedy: Fire in Santiago de Cuba Hits Home Where Family Previously Died in Explosion

Lázaro Cuquet Piñón, a Cuban resident whose home was damaged by a fire on Wednesday night in Santiago de Cuba, had already witnessed a severe blaze 42 years ago that claimed the lives of his parents, grandparents, and a sister, according to social media posts by Aris Arias Batalla. Cuquet Piñón survived that incident by jumping out of a front window. Tragically, this recent fire occurred in the same house, which this time sustained partial damages due to a blaze originating in a neighboring home.

Thankfully, this time there were no explosions, injuries, or fatalities. The damage to Lázaro Cuquet's house was mainly to the roof and the living room area, as these areas shared a common ceiling with the neighboring residence where the fire started.

Officials from the Municipal Administration Council (CAM) and other state agencies, such as housing, physical planning, and communal services, were present at the scene.

Altercation Amidst the Fire

Regarding the fight that broke out during the fire, which was reported on social media, Aris Arias Batalla provided a somewhat unclear account of the events. "The unfortunate incident involved a firefighter who identified himself and tried to prevent neighbors from entering the house. When the first fire truck arrived, they noticed their colleague being physically assaulted. While some firefighters worked to extinguish the flames, another went to assist the attacked firefighter, who is the young man on the motorcycle seen in the video," stated the rescuer.

Journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada was the first to report the fire that erupted on Calvario Street between Santa Rosa and Princesa, for unknown reasons. A video shared by the journalist showed that shortly after the fire truck arrived, a fight broke out among several young men, and at least one firefighter was involved in the scuffle.

In the comments section of the post, an internet user identified as Iván Vélez clarified the reason for the confusing brawl during what should have been a critical moment. "To clarify, there was no brawl with the firefighters. I was informed that a motorcycle was parked at the corner of Santa Rosa, and when the fire truck tried to pass, the motorcycle was blocking its way," Vélez explained.

“Two neighbors moved it to clear the path for the fire truck because the owner was not around. When the owner arrived, he confronted the neighbors, presumably because the motorcycle was damaged during the move," he added. Vélez noted that the confrontation escalated into a discussion and eventually a brawl. The motorcycle owner later identified himself as an officer of the Technical Investigations Department (DTI).

This version of events starkly contrasts with the one provided by the official source.

The fire broke out around 10:40 p.m. on July 17 in a home owned by four siblings, one of whom resides in Havana. No one was present in the house at the time of the incident. The fire severely damaged three rooms, and the front door was forced open by neighboring residents. According to witnesses, there was no electricity in the house at the time.

The Ministry of the Interior (MININT) is investigating the cause of the fire.