A fire in the traditional building of São Paulo, the Copan, shook the center of the capital of São Paulo this Thursday (3). Already controlled by the Fire Department, which sent nine vehicles to the scene, the flames scared people close to the building and residents.
According to the corporation, the fire started in one of the apartments in “block E” and spread to an expansion crack in the building’s structure. The fire reached the 18th and 22nd floors of the building. Ipiranga Avenue, in front, was closed by the CET.
“I live in Copan and work in an office opposite, from where I could see the flames. I ran down and the place was still not isolated. I even tried to enter the building, but the firefighters arrived and, rightly so, prevented people from accessing it”, commented biomedical engineer and businessman Edyr Sabino.
Another Copan resident and owner of Cuia Restaurante, which is located in the building, the award-winning chef Bel Coellho, commented that the building was evacuated and the stores on the ground floor were emptied.
So far, there is no confirmation of victims.
Copan is one of the most traditional buildings in São Paulo. Designed by Oscar Niemeyer, its curves shape what is one of the largest residential complexes in the country, with 1,160 apartments.
