The risk of collapsing the ten-story building hit by a fire in the region of 25 de Março, in the center of São Paulo, in the early hours of Monday (11). . 
Captain Maycon Cristo, spokesperson for the São Paulo Fire Department, said, exclusively for the Brazil Agency, that there is still the possibility of some partial or total collapse of some structure of the building. “That’s why our fight is external, we chose to guarantee the safety of the firefighter professional that this fight is external, this evaluation is constant”.
Some streets in the 25 de Março region were blocked – Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil
On Wednesday morning (13) firefighters continued to fight fire outbreaks with external cranes.
“At some point, when we see that it is safe to work in a specific part, we return to work in some internal parts of the building. For now, just outside,” explained Cristo. With this strategy, the firefighter explains that fighting fires can take a little longer.
According to the captain, of the five buildings affected, some have already collapsed, are closed, some are in danger of collapsing the roof, but they are smaller buildings. “Then there would be no interference around it, and the larger ten-story building, which still has an open flame, if it collapses, some neighboring buildings are closed so that the damage is only material and does not have damage to life”.
The captain also explained why several streets in the surroundings remain closed. “We need a minimum area here in the center for us to work. That’s why some streets are still closed. But little by little it comes back.”
Fire in commercial buildings on Rua Barão de Duprat, near Rua 25 de Março, in the central region of the capital. – Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil
Business
Trader Ademir Moraes, owner of three stores at Shopping 25 de Março, was relieved with the opening of the space, which has entrances through Rua Barão de Duprat, which until this morning was closed. He lamented the loss of closed days.
Moraes, who is also president of the São Paulo Association of Entrepreneurs of the Shopping Circuit, says he was very sorry and sympathized with the businessmen of the building that caught fire. He pointed out that all downtown commerce was affected. ”Many people who normally come to shop here, not only in retail but also in wholesale, have stopped coming. The loss was very great because this loss will not be limited to these three days”, highlighted the businessman, who understands that the city hall and the government will have to “look with great affection, with great love for the center of São Paulo, at the level of revitalization and modernization”.
Firefighters work on the fire in commercial buildings on Rua Barão de Duprat, near Rua 25 de Março, in the central region of the capital. – Rovena Rosa/Agência Brasil
The Trade Union of Traders is also on site to support and clarify the doubts of the employees of the shops. “We are here taking the workers’ doubts and putting the union structure and our legal department for any guidance that the worker needs. The union has this support to assist workers in this difficult time who are losing sales.
He said that employees of closed stores must be paid for the days when the trade had to be closed. “At the moment, there is no law that the worker has losses because the store is closed. This does not exist in the law yet, this cost would be for the company, the worker is not to blame for this. But, at the moment, there was no manifestation of this nature, neither by the employers nor by the workers”, said the union director, Marinaldo Medeiros.
