On the 25th of January 1899, a fire broke out in a U.S. military munitions depot on calle Comercio, located 3 blocks from Parque de Bombas which was then an active fire station. The firefighters were told not to fight the fire though the reason for this order is unknown. Several firemen decided to disobey the order. They extinguished the fire and saved the town.
Initially, the U.S. military wanted to punish them for their insubordination and had them arrested. The towns people, regarding them as heroes, raised a huge public outcry against the arrests. The military reconsidered, released the men, and honored them in a public celebration.
Seven years later the city honored them by creating Las Casas de los Bomberos on Calle 25 de Enero. Each year for the next several years, a firefighter would be chosen through a lottery, honored, and given a new home on the street. In all, there are 60 houses which are still inhabited by the descendants of the firefighters that received them. They are wooden homes painted red and black like Parque de Bombas.
Gallery
If you visit the street while in Ponce, please be respectful of its residents.