Fire destroys 88-year-old man's home in Juana Díaz
The resident escaped unharmed from the blaze reported Wednesday night in barrio Aguilita; firefighters are investigating the cause.
PhotoThe short version
- Telemundo Puerto Rico reported an 88-year-old man was alone when fire broke out around 9 p.m. Wednesday in barrio Aguilita and consumed his residence and several vehicles
- El Nuevo Día reported the fire was called in around 9:55 p.m. and consumed a wooden, zinc and cement house
- The director of Juana Díaz Emergency Management told TeleOnce the man was already outside when responders arrived and was checked by paramedics
- El Nuevo Día reported an allegation was made to police that the fire started in a vehicle at the rear before spreading to the house
Blaze reported in Aguilita
An 88-year-old man lost his home to fire on Wednesday night in barrio Aguilita, Juana Díaz. Telemundo Puerto Rico reported the resident was alone when the fire started around 9 p.m. He was not injured.
According to El Nuevo Día, the blaze was reported around 9:55 p.m. The house was made of wood, zinc and cement. The director of Juana Díaz Emergency Management, Axel Arroyo, told TeleOnce the man was already outside the residence when responders arrived.
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Cause under investigation
El Nuevo Día reported that the Negociado de Bomberos of the Departamento de Seguridad Pública responded to extinguish the fire. An arson inspector will investigate the cause during the day.
The same outlet reported that an allegation was made to police that the fire began in a vehicle located at the rear of the property before spreading to the house. Arroyo added that personnel from the Oficina de Ayuda al Ciudadano interviewed the man along with officials from the Departamento de la Vivienda and the Departamento de la Familia.
Where the sources differ
Both Telemundo Puerto Rico and El Nuevo Día agree the fire occurred Wednesday night in barrio Aguilita, Juana Díaz, destroyed the home of an elderly man who was alone and that he was unharmed. Telemundo Puerto Rico reported the time as about 9 p.m. and said several vehicles were also consumed. El Nuevo Día gave the report time as 9:55 p.m., described the house construction and noted an allegation to police that the fire started in a rear vehicle. El Nuevo Día quoted Juana Díaz Emergency Management director Axel Arroyo saying the man was already outside when responders arrived; Telemundo Puerto Rico did not include that detail.
What the reports do not say
The sources do not state the exact address, the number of vehicles lost, whether the man required hospital treatment, the extent of any injuries found on scene, what assistance if any was offered by the government agencies that interviewed him, or a preliminary determination of the fire's cause.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Incendio consume residencia de hombre de 88 años en Juana Díaz
- Reporting Incendio consume residencia de octogenario en Juana Díaz
How we checked this
Telemundo Puerto Rico and El Nuevo Día both covered the Juana Díaz house fire. Details on timing, the allegation of a vehicle origin and the statement that the man was already outside come solely from El Nuevo Día. The report of consumed vehicles rests only on Telemundo Puerto Rico.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.