AIRPORT FIRE IN CUBA

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28701, 26 September 1958, Page 9

AIRPORT FIRE IN CUBA

Suspicions Of Sabotage

(Rec. 11 p.m.) HAVANA, September 24.

Fire destroyed the administration building of Havana’s Rancho Boyeros International airport today, closing the field to international traffic. Authorities said sabotage might have been responsible. Police reported the blaze started in a store room when a case of motion picture film was opened. But the speed with which the flames spread to the entire structure appeared to indicate that sabotage was involved, they said The military airport at Camp Columbia, outside Havana, was adapted from the departure and arrival of commercial planes.

R.K.0., an American motion picture company, was shooting scenes at the airport for a forthcoming film when the fire broke out. Cameraman and other technicians abandoned their equipment because of the rapid advance of the flames.

The entire airport and surrounding area was left without electric power as the flames destroyed some of the posts bearing high voltage wires. The power company shut off the current to prevent possible accidents.

The name of the airport was changed recently to Jose Marti. It still is generally called Rancho Boyeros, after the town in which it is located.