This morning, the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, together with deputy mayor Inma Sanz, presided over an emotional tribute in the renovated Plaza del Carmen to remember the ten municipal firefighters who lost their lives in the Arias Department Stores fire 38 years ago. The tragic incident, which took place on September 4, 1987, on Montera Street, remains in the memory of the capital.
Several authorities attended the event, such as the Centro district councilor, Carlos Segura, in addition to representatives of the municipal corporation and members of the municipal fire department. The families of the fallen firefighters were also present, and they received the mayor's affection and recognition for the 'courage and bravery' of their loved ones.
During the tribute, representatives from each fire station presented floral offerings in memory of their fallen comrades. Martínez-Almeida and Sanz laid a laurel wreath at the Monument to the Firefighter, a sculpture by José Miguel Utande that pays tribute to the work and sacrifice of the body. Originally located next to the Las Águilas neighborhood fire station, the work has recently been moved to Carmen Square.
The mayor took the opportunity to pay tribute to all the firefighters who faced the recent fires in Spain, highlighting the importance of their work in the daily life of Madrid residents. "They give us light where there is none and they put their lives at risk," he stated.
The renovated Plaza del Carmen, site of the emotional tribute, was reopened this year after a remodeling process that transformed the space with new facilities, such as a fountain, green areas, and children's playgrounds, thereby establishing itself as a meeting place for the neighbors and a permanent tribute to the memory of the fallen heroes.
