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A fire hit, on Sunday morning (27), an abandoned building located at José de Melo Street, Bosque neighborhood, in Rio Branco. The property, which is often shelter for homeless people, had the flames started around 9am on the second floor, where there were mattresses, woods and other flammable materials.
According to witnesses, the fire may have been caused by a makeshift bonfire used to cook or heat the place. At the time of the fire, a homeless man who occupied the building managed to remove a bed made of foams and sheets. After leaving the scene with the belonging, he passed out under the strong sun, near the base of the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu), in front of the Children’s Hospital. The temperature at the moment was approximately 34 ° C.
Homeless man faints after removing bed of fire on fire in Rio Branco/Photo: Contilnet
Three Fire Department vehicles were called to contain the flames, while the Military Police isolated the area and supported the occurrence. No one was injured, but the building had the structure compromised.
The property has already been the subject of fires on other occasions and is still irregularly occupied, which is a constant risk of collapse and new incidents. The situation worries residents and traders of the region, who charge effective actions of the government.
The case rekindles the debate on the occupation of abandoned buildings in Rio Branco and the need for public policies aimed at homeless people and users of illicit substances, especially in areas with structural risk.
