Havana, August 14 (RHC)-- Matanzas said goodbye Sunday to the members of the firefighting corps from several provinces of the country who participated in the fight against the fire that affected the western province of Cuba.

At the meeting, the people of Matanzas expressed their gratitude to the firefighters from Pinar del Río, Artemisa, Havana, Mayabeque, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus and Ciego de Ávila who, together with their colleagues from Matanzas, and aid workers from Mexico and Venezuela, defied the fire.

On the esplanade in front of the 'Mártires del Goicuría' school center, Yunisexky Bernal, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) in that locality, highlighted the immediate response of the firefighters once the fire broke out last August 5 at the Supertanqueros Base.

During the ceremony, participants observed a minute of silence in honor of those who died in the fire. The top authorities of the Cuban Communist Party (PCC)and the Government of the province presented awards to the firefighters who showed their solidarity.

The ceremony was presided over by Susely Morfa, first secretary of the PCC in Matanzas, and Mario Sabines Lorenzo, governor of the territory.