On May 17, 2023, a fire claimed one Arturo Fuente’s tobacco warehouses in the Dominican Republic. Though attempts were made to extinguish the fire, the result was a total loss of the building and approximately a million pounds of aged tobacco stored within it. None of Fuente’s employees were injured in the fire that reportedly began around 5:30 p.m. The cause of the fire is currently unknown and under investigation.
In a press release, Carlos Fuente Fuente, Jr. released the following statement:
“Yesterday, on May 17th, around 5:30 afternoon, one of our tobacco warehouses in Villa González, Dominican Republic, was affected by a fire that resulted in the loss of the building and all of the irreplaceable aged tobacco inside.
“Yes, sadly, years of hard work and dedication from every member of our Fuente family were lost in the fire, but truly, the only thing that matters in these tragic moments is that, fortunately, no one was injured. We will not be discouraged by this setback.
“Fire, trials, and tribulations have been a way of life for us. It will only continue to forge our determination to move forward and prevail. We lost a lot, but never, ever our faith and will.”
This is not the first time Arturo Fuente has dealt with a fire impacting its facilities and business. In 2011, two of Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia’s tobacco warehouses burned down in a fire and took with it part of the company’s inventory of aged tobacco.