12
Coordinator of Prosecutors, the head of the Fire Department, and the Chairman of the Security
Commission.
32.
This situation was precisely what caused the fire in Cellblock 19 on May 17, 2004,
a fact corroborated by the various expert reports presented during the investigations pursued into
case No. 1009/04. What follows is a transcription of the relevant parts of the corresponding official
reports which are part of the case file:
o
Report by the Fire Department of the Northwestern Region, prepared on the basis of
its operations on the day of the fire:
CAUSES OF THE FIRE
The causes of the fire that happened in Cellblock 19 were as follows:
1. The entire electrical system was studied and analyzed and it was found to have been
installed in an improvised fashion, using electrical wiring of different types and grade. The
wires were not properly spliced together. Photographs are attached.
2. In each of the platform beds were two or three ventilators; inside the cellblock there were
four mini splits that were running constantly, since the cellblock did not have proper
ventilation.
3. The wiring that was connected to the mini splits located above the door that led directly
into the cellblock was not the proper grade to carry the amount of energy that was flowing to
the electrical device and also influenced the amount of power that the cellblock was drawing.
CONCLUSION
Given the causes enumerated above, one can conclude that this fire was caused by an
overheating followed by a short circuit in the wiring that was connected to the mini splits
located above the entrance door to the cellblock, which caused the material inside the mini
split to melt and drop onto the curtain fabric over the entrance, cardboard boxes containing
clothing and shoes, and the mattresses. The incomplete combustion that followed was
caused by the poor ventilation in the cellblock, with the result that the latter was consumed in
smoke, gases and high temperatures. 13
o
Opinion prepared by the technical staff of the National Electric Power Company
(ENEE) under Engineer Otto Vallecillo:
FINAL CONCLUSIONS
The conditions were present for the electrical system in cellblock 19 to fail, since the
installations were not properly built. However, because the protection hardware of the three
load centers worked and the circuit that was unprotected did not trigger any spark in the
distribution transformer, other possible causes of the fire should be explored.
SUGGGESTIONS
1. Restructure and improve the prison’s electrical system.
2. Provide the working logistics necessary to the personnel charged with maintaining the
prison’s electrical system.
3. Hire trained personnel for corrective and preventive maintenance of the San Pedro Sula
prison, in coordination with the personnel currently in charge of maintenance.
4. Improve the monitoring of household appliances now installed and ban any additional
domestic appliances.
5. Provide extinguishers and establish evacuation routes and procedures for staff to follow in
the event of any emergencies, all in accordance with safety standards.
13
Original petition received on July 14, 2005. Annex 30. Case 1009/04. Folio 1813: Honduran Fire Department’s
Report on the Investigation of the Fire.