Plasencia Tobacco Barn Destroyed In Blaze, No Injuries Reported
Firefighters in Estelí, Nicaragua, spent late Friday morning putting out a curing barn fire that broke out on Las Conchas, a tobacco farm belonging to Plasencia Cigars. According to Nestor Andrés Plasencia, who owns the company with his father, Nestor Senior, no one was injured.
The blaze started around 9:30 a.m., and was extinguished around 45 minutes later, at approximately 10:15.
“We are grateful that the fire was contained quickly and that our people are safe,” says Plasencia, fifth-generation member of the family-owned cigar and tobacco family. “Our team responded with professionalism and discipline, and we are thankful for the rapid coordination with the Estelí Fire Department. We are equally moved by the support from our fellow manufacturers in Estelí—this industry truly operates as a family.”
A pillar of the premium cigar industry, the Plasencias are the largest growers of premium cigar tobacco in Central America, with major operations in Nicaragua in Honduras. The family not only sells tobacco through its brokerage channels, but produces cigars under contract. In addition, Plasencia Cigars also makes its own lines of cigars, most notably the Alma series, which comprises Alma Fuerte, Alma del Campo, Alma del Fuego and Alma del Cielo.
As far as financial impact, Plasencia says it’s too early to tell, but told Cigar Aficionado that all the tobacco in the barn was affected. The cause is also not known at this point.
“The cause of the fire remains under evaluation,” Plasencia adds. “And we will defer to the appropriate authorities and our internal review before commenting further. What can tell you that we are very proud of how our team responded. We have an amazing group of people working with us.”
