"Our city can burn like Bayamo": Firefighter warns of fires in trash dumps in Santiago de Cuba

A senior representative of the volunteer firefighters in Santiago de Cuba issued a serious warning on social media about the increasing risk of fires caused by urban micro-dumps in the city.

Aris Arias Batallas, provincial vice president of the Asociación de Bomberos Voluntarios de Cuba and also head of Operations and Relief for the Red Cross in the province, reported on Facebook that the situation is critical and requires immediate action from the authorities.

"I won't go into details to avoid hurting professional sensitivities (...), but I warn of immediate actions because if these do not take place, our city will become like Bayamo, and it won't be for its beautiful cars and historical monuments; it will be due to the continuous fires in micro landfills or large dumps," he warned.

According to the official, just the day before, three firefighting services were conducted in less than two hours, all in areas close to homes, power poles, and state targets.

The volunteer firefighter emphasized the economic, health, and social drawbacks that this situation is causing.

Although the population must dispose of their solid waste somewhere, the lack of timely collection by state services is turning urban areas into permanent risk zones.

"We all know about the issue and the blah, blah, blah, but be careful with the fire," he wrote, directly referring to the possibility that the flames could spread and cause significant injuries or material damage.

The public criticism from an official of their level reflects the visible deterioration in urban sanitation services in Santiago de Cuba and adds to other citizen complaints about the accumulation of garbage, the proliferation of pests, and uncontrolled fires.

Fires in landfills have become a persistent threat for the residents of Santiago de Cuba, where the accumulation of waste without timely collection has created constant risk hotspots.

In recent months, numerous landfills have caught fire in various parts of the city, some just a few meters away from homes, schools, and power poles, raising alarm among residents and authorities.

On several occasions, residents have reported similar situations where the fire was consuming piles of garbage that had been accumulating for weeks.

These fires not only release toxic smoke and unpleasant odors, but they have also caused spontaneous evacuations and property damage, as occurred in an area near the Sur Children's Hospital, where a column of black smoke covered part of the neighborhood, generating panic among families.

The most concerning aspect is that these events are not isolated incidents. In various neighborhoods, there have been reports of cases where the residents themselves set fire to the trash bins in a desperate attempt to get rid of the accumulated waste, due to the inaction of the state cleaning services.

This type of response highlights not only the lack of structural solutions but also the growing desperation of the population.

In another striking incident, a dumpster was set on fire in broad daylight near a primary school, prompting parents and teachers to demand control measures.

According to the report, smoke seeped into the classrooms, affecting several minors with respiratory symptoms, highlighting the vulnerability of school infrastructure to this issue.

Frequently Asked Questions about Landfill Fires in Santiago de Cuba