On 25 January 1899, a large fire (later dubbed "El Polvorin") threatened the lives of the residents of the city of Ponce and, given Ponce's de facto role as Puerto Rico's banking and agricultural capital, it threatened the economy of Puerto Rico as a whole.

By the time the local commander realized there was a fire near the munitions compound, he judged it too risky for his men to try to put it out and ordered all personnel to move away from the area to let the fire extinguish itself, even if it meant explosions at the munitions depot.

The commander also instructed the local firemen (then numbering about 40) not to enter the area or attempt to extinguish the fire.

For their success, the group was honored many times both in Ponce and the rest of Puerto Rico.

[3] It replaced the original obelisk built shortly after the 25 January 1899 fire, but which was destroyed by the 1918 San Fermín earthquake.