The storage and illegal sale of fuel within homes in Santiago de Cuba can turn entire neighborhoods into a "ticking time bomb", warned a director from the Volunteer Firefighters regarding practices that, as he reported, are spreading amid the energy crisis.
Aris Arias Batalla, provincial vice president of the Volunteer Firefighters Association of Cuba in Santiago de Cuba, raised the alarm this Friday in a Facebook post titled "Danger Lurking: The Ticking Time Bomb Whistling in Our Neighborhoods."
Arias began by distinguishing between the acquisition of fuel for logistical and transportation needs and its irregular storage within homes.
He acknowledged that the country needs fuel to maintain certain activities, but warned that this need should not be interpreted as permission to “turn a home into an illegal fuel depot.”
"Those who confuse logistical necessity with household storage, are digging their own trap, and even worse, that of their neighbors," he noted.
The firefighter stated that there is confusion among some people regarding what is permitted and what is not, but he insisted that the physical risks associated with domestic storage do not disappear regardless of interpretations of the regulations.
As an example, he mentioned plastic containers of five, 10, or 20 liters with fuel stored inside poorly ventilated rooms.
"It's not a 'warehouse'; it's a detonator," he declared.
Arias dedicated a good part of his warning to the fumes generated by fuels in closed or semi-closed spaces, where, as he explained, they can accumulate and create extremely dangerous conditions in the presence of an ignition source.
The specialist warned that seemingly everyday actions can become a risk when concentrated flammable vapors are present, and he mentioned electrical switches, static electricity, and electronic devices among the potential triggers of an accident.
He also highlighted the containers used for storing gasoline or diesel.
He explained that many are reused plastic containers that were not designed for that purpose and may deteriorate due to high temperatures.
The heat, he warned, can deform and weaken them to the point of causing cracks and leaks.
The smell is not just a nuisance; it is the harbinger of a catastrophe, he wrote.
But Arias's complaint went beyond just storing for personal consumption.
The firefighter assured that there is an illegal sale of small quantities of fuel from residences, a practice he described as "Clandestine Home Deliveries".
«This illegal sale of bullets and jugs through Clandestine Delivery Services is a criminal distortion. No one is authorized for this», he stated.
He also rejected the idea that this activity could be justified as an informal alternative to earn income amid the crisis.
"That practice is not 'a chance', it is not 'a fabrication'; it is a direct violation of safety regulations and social coexistence," he stated.
Arias called on the neighbors to report any cases they detect of clandestine storage or sale of fuel within their homes.
"A fire can always be prevented. But it isn't prevented with luck or prayers. It is prevented through reporting, with rigor, and with collective rejection of negligence," he stated.
For the firefighter, storing large quantities of fuel in residential areas poses a danger not only to the individual making that decision but also to the families living nearby.
"Let’s call it by its name: it’s a ticking time bomb. And the clock doesn’t give any warnings," he warned.
In one of the harshest passages of his message, Arias warned about the possible consequences of a fire or explosion if these practices continue, mentioning destroyed homes, families trapped among the rubble, and children suffering from severe burns.
When the accident happens —and it will happen if we don't stop this— there will be no explanation that will suffice,” he stated.
His warning comes at a time when the authorities themselves have acknowledged irregularities related to the private storage of fuels.
In August, for example, firefighters and fire protection specialists raised concerns about numerous violations in fuel handling by private businesses.
Among the detected practices were the use of plastic tanks, insufficient ventilation, lack of protective systems, mixed storage of different fuels, and discharges made directly into homes from non-specialized vehicles.
The authorities then warned that violations could result in fines, confiscations, and even legal action.
The concern has specific precedents in Santiago de Cuba.
In August 2025, a fire in a house in San Luis left one resident with third-degree burns and an injured firefighter.
During the intervention, a second combustion occurred due to the presence of a container with gasoline and a lit brazier.
In another incident that took place in the city in 2023, a container of gasoline exploded and caused a fire inside a residence.
The residents initially managed to contain the flames using sand and prevented a greater tragedy.
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