A fire broke out this past Saturday in the Gasómetro area, located in the José Martí Norte District of Santiago de Cuba. The incident was reported in real-time by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada through his social media channels.
Images and videos circulating online depicted a thick, black column of smoke rising above a modest residential neighborhood set in a hilly area, while numerous residents watched the blaze from the streets, visibly distressed.
What truly unsettled the community was not just the fire itself, but the lack of response from the firefighters.
"The firefighters weren't answering the phone, everyone was calling, I'm here right now; if the fire doesn't get put out quickly, it's going to spread into the backyards of the houses near the steps," wrote a local resident who claimed to be at the scene.
Other social media users confirmed these claims: "No firefighters here," one noted. Another sarcastically remarked, "The firefighter just passed by the railway, hidden cameras are up to date."
From various parts of the city, residents reported seeing the smoke: "I can see the smoke from my house, dear God."
The comments on the post echoed a collective desperation. "Dear God... Santiago is all about fires and fights... it's just chaos," wrote one user.
Others simply asked for mercy or exclaimed, "TROY IS BURNING." Eventually, a comment noted that firefighters arrived after a delay: "The firefighters just got here."
Ongoing Fire Crisis in Santiago de Cuba
This incident is not an isolated case. Santiago de Cuba has experienced at least six significant fires from February to April 2026, including one in April that destroyed the homes of two families, leaving five children homeless, and another that forced the evacuation of 12 patients from the Saturnino Lora Hospital following a failure in an air conditioning compressor.
In February, a major fire impacted the B-53 building in the same José Martí District, caused by burning waste.
In March, an electric scooter exploded inside a home in the Sueño neighborhood.
Firefighting Service Issues Across Cuba
The firefighting crisis is a widespread issue documented throughout the island. In Guantánamo, firefighters arrived at a blaze but ran out of water, preventing them from extinguishing the fire in time.
In Havana, residents resorted to setting trash bins on fire to attract firefighters and use water from their tanker trucks, after enduring up to 35 days without water supply.
The national electricity deficit, which reached between 1,630 and 1,945 MW in April 2026 with blackouts affecting 55% of the territory, further hampers response capabilities, as it paralyzes water supply pumps.
Adding to this, Hurricane Melissa damaged over 106,500 homes in Santiago de Cuba province in October 2025, and only 17% had been repaired five months later, leaving thousands of families in precarious structures highly susceptible to fire.
As of the close of this report, the Gasómetro fire remained an ongoing situation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Santiago de Cuba's Fire Crisis
What caused the fire in Santiago de Cuba's Gasómetro area?
The specific cause of the fire in the Gasómetro area has not been detailed in the report, but it is part of a series of fires affecting the region.
Why were firefighters delayed in responding?
Residents reported that attempts to contact the firefighters were unsuccessful, leading to a delayed response and increased community frustration.
How has Santiago de Cuba been impacted by fires recently?
Santiago de Cuba has experienced multiple significant fires, including residential fires and a hospital evacuation, contributing to a mounting crisis.