Joelma Fire
Encyclopedia
The Joelma fire occurred on Friday February 1, 1974, in the Joelma building
, a 25 story building situated in downtown São Paulo
, at 225 Avenue Nine of July. It is one of the most notable tragedies to have occurred in Brazil
.
A short-circuit in a faulty air-conditioner on the 12th floor ignited the fire at 8:50 AM. The building was primarily occupied by a single banking company, Banco Crefisul S/A, of which 756 employees were present. A person in an adjacent building reported the fire and first fire personnel arrived on the scene at 9:10 AM. Assistance was requested and further units arrived at 9:30 AM, by which time flames were nearly to the roof of the building. The large amount of combustible materials, including paper, plastics, electrical equipment and wooden walls and furniture, contributed to the fire spreading rapidly. Most importantly, the building had no emergency exits, fire alarms or fire sprinkler
systems installed.
Initial efforts led to the successful evacuation of some 300 employees before the heat and smoke became too overwhelming. Many remaining employees climbed onto balconies for air and a group of 171 individuals fled to the roof. A helicopter
rescue was attempted but the heat, smoke and inadequate landing space prevented helicopters from reaching the roof until well after the fire had burned out at 10:30 AM. Despite the best efforts of rescue personnel and witnesses, who shouted and created signs instructing people to remain calm, 40 individuals jumped to escape the conditions inside and in failed attempts to grasp unreachable fire ladders. None of these jumpers survived.
Death toll
estimates range from 179 to 189.
It was the second serious fire in São Paulo in less than two years. The first took place in 1972 in the Andraus Building
, also in downtown São Paulo, killing 16 people. After the Joelma fire, the legislation concerning the fire prevention codes in all of Brazil was updated.
Joelma Building
The Joelma Building is a 25 floor skyscraper in São Paulo, Brazil, located at 225 Avenida 9 de Julho. At 8:50am on 1 February 1974, an air conditioning unit on the twelfth floor overheated, starting a fire. There were 756 people in the building at the time. Because flammable materials had been used...
, a 25 story building situated in downtown São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, at 225 Avenue Nine of July. It is one of the most notable tragedies to have occurred in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
A short-circuit in a faulty air-conditioner on the 12th floor ignited the fire at 8:50 AM. The building was primarily occupied by a single banking company, Banco Crefisul S/A, of which 756 employees were present. A person in an adjacent building reported the fire and first fire personnel arrived on the scene at 9:10 AM. Assistance was requested and further units arrived at 9:30 AM, by which time flames were nearly to the roof of the building. The large amount of combustible materials, including paper, plastics, electrical equipment and wooden walls and furniture, contributed to the fire spreading rapidly. Most importantly, the building had no emergency exits, fire alarms or fire sprinkler
Fire sprinkler
A fire sprinkler system is an active fire protection measure, consisting of a water supply system, providing adequate pressure and flowrate to a water distribution piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected...
systems installed.
Initial efforts led to the successful evacuation of some 300 employees before the heat and smoke became too overwhelming. Many remaining employees climbed onto balconies for air and a group of 171 individuals fled to the roof. A helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
rescue was attempted but the heat, smoke and inadequate landing space prevented helicopters from reaching the roof until well after the fire had burned out at 10:30 AM. Despite the best efforts of rescue personnel and witnesses, who shouted and created signs instructing people to remain calm, 40 individuals jumped to escape the conditions inside and in failed attempts to grasp unreachable fire ladders. None of these jumpers survived.
Death toll
Death Toll
Death Toll is a 2008 action film starring DMX, Lou Diamond Phillips, Leila Arcieri and Keshia Knight Pulliam, written and produced by Daniel Garcia of the rap group Kane & Abel and directed by Phenomenon...
estimates range from 179 to 189.
It was the second serious fire in São Paulo in less than two years. The first took place in 1972 in the Andraus Building
Andraus Building
The Andraus Building is a well-known building in the city centre of São Paulo, Brazil which is located in Republic district, on the corner of avenida São João with rua Pedro Américo. It is 115 metres tall and has 32 floors, and its construction ended in 1962. On February 24, 1972, the building...
, also in downtown São Paulo, killing 16 people. After the Joelma fire, the legislation concerning the fire prevention codes in all of Brazil was updated.