I am a little late to reporting on this since this has been the week of my daughter’s surgery. But yesterday a major fire broke out at AJ Fernandez’ factory, Tabacalera AJ Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua. According La Voz de Norte, the fire began in what is the packaging room in the morning on March 31st, 2025.
1,500 people who worked in the factory plus approximately 70 children who were at the in-house daycare facility were evacuated. Workers tried to salvage tobacco and other assets while fleeing from the building. Currently, no fatalities or injuries have been reported but the total loss is still union. So far we know much of the damage includes finished products in the packaging room where the fire started and significant damage to the rolling room.
Last night, AJ Fernandez posted this update to social media:
This factory is among the largest in the world and is responsible of remanufacturing cigars for many popular brands such as Alatdis USA, Artesano del Tobacco, General Cigar, Foundation Cigar Company, and Espinosa. There will be more updates to this story when more information is discovered and released. We hope to hear more from AJ at the PCA trade show if nothing is learned beforehand.
