Fire At A.J. Fernandez Factory In Nicaragua
Firefighters in Estelí, Nicaragua, have finally extinguished a blaze at the A.J. Fernandez factory that purportedly started at 8 am this morning and burned until around 2 pm this afternoon. No injuries were reported, but the fire is estimated to have damaged millions of finished cigars.
According to Rafael Nodal, vice president of product capability at Altadis U.S.A./Tabacalera USA (and very close to the situation), the fire began in the packaging department, an area of the factory where finished cigars are labeled, put into cellophane sleeves and boxed up for shipment. It is unclear exactly which brands were consumed by the fire, but A.J. Fernandez produces cigar lines such as Aging Room, Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta for Altadis U.S.A.; Diesel and Man O’ War for Scandinavian Tobacco Group; his own cigars including the extensive New World series, Enclave and San Lotano; and a number of brands for smaller cigar companies such as Foundation Cigar Co. and Artesano del Tobacco.
The fire comes at a particularly bad time, as the PCA trade show will be starting on April 11. It is very likely that cigar samples intended for the show perished in the blaze, along with inventory for future orders. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
Nodal says that the fire was mostly contained to the packaging area and that inventories of tobacco leaf were not affected. Fernandez was unavailable for comment and was in Miami at the time of the fire, however the company issued this statement on social media:
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who has reached out, prayed for us, and stood by our side during this incredibly difficult time. Your love and mean more than words can express. We are beyond grateful for the strength of our community, our team, and all those who have shown up for us. Above all, we are thankful that everyone is safe. In moments like these, we’re reminded of the power of unity and we feel it now more than ever. We will move forward—united, resilient and more committed than ever to what we stand for.”
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