Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
These images show how this religious statue remained entirely unscathed as a raging house fire devastated everything around it.
According to the local firefighters, they were called to the fire in a neighbourhood called Jose Simeon Canas in the municipality of Zacatecoluca in La Paz Department in south-central El Salvador.
The fire started because of some candles that were left lit as the family were out, according to the firefighters.
The pictures shared by the firefighters on Twitter show the figure of Maximon, known as San Simon, on a small altar that was undamaged while the other parts of the house are seen completely burnt.
San Simon is a folk saint worshipped in Latin America as a cunning womaniser and also the protector of couples.
The most popular temple to San Simon is located in the municipality of San Andres Itzapa where shamans reportedly burn food and flowers in front of pilgrims as an offering to the saint.
The deity is believed to have originated after the blending of several historical, biblical and Mayan mythological figures during the Spanish conquest of the Mayan in the early 16th century.
Reports said the fire only caused material damage and no people were injured as there was nobody in the house when it happed.
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