A fire destroyed an Emblematic Bakery in Tierra del Fuego

At dawn today, the news awoke sadness among the residents of the town of Tolhuin, after knowing that a fire affected the traditional La Union bakery, a place that has been a reference in the province for more than 30 years. The flames almost completely consumed the facilities.

The incident began after 5 this Saturday, for reasons not yet established. So far, what is known is that the fire would have started at the back of the shop and then spread rapidly within the establishment.

All Tolhuin troops immediately went to the scene and worked to control the fire and prevent it from also affecting the neighboring houses, all wooden cabins, which fortunately did not happen. There were no injuries either.

A tanker unit of Rio Grande volunteer firefighters approached to assist in this emergency. At this time, expert reports are carried out to find out how everything originated.

“I live in the back, one block away. This morning they woke me up to the news. It is not yet known what happened. Due to the pandemic and the cost issue, some time ago we stopped having a watchman in the place,” said the owner of the bakery, Emilio Sáez.

This is how it remained after being devastated by the flames 

The owner was moved in statements to GLM: “My tears are falling. They are 37 years of work. We do not close a single day. We are 28 families. We had started to rebound with the return of tourism. We were crazy because we could make up these nine months that we had lost. At times I want to cry, other times I want to face back and start. It is a strange mixture what I feel”.

The fact was quickly transcending among the inhabitants of the place and many expressed their feeling of sadness on social networks. “For those of us who know and live in Tierra del Fuego the La Unión bakery located in the city of Tolhuin, visited by national and international stars, it meant a huge cultural heritage. It’s devastating to see this image of the iconic bakery set on fire” wrote one.

The fire affected the facilities almost completely 

The place was designated as “An obligatory stop on Route 3”. Several remembered their passage there. “This was a corner in tribute to Favaloro for having operated on the owner of the premises,” wrote a user, sharing an image of a life-size sculpture of the heart surgeon that was displayed inside the establishment and that, according to Sáez, is now in ruins. “Its owner had photos with all kinds of celebrities. Poor Emilio, ”added another.

Many also recognized its significance. “Capable is because I am Fuegian, but is there a more emblematic bakery than La Unión de Tolhuin? I would be encouraged to say no, throughout the country “commented another young man approached by grief.