The Chamber intervened in an empty building that burned down on Sunday in Lisbon due to the risk of collapse

Lisbon City Council is intervening in an empty building that burned down on Sunday in the Baixa district because there is an “immediate objective risk of collapse” of the rear and right side of the building, the municipal civil protection agency said.

The fire broke out on Sunday evening at Escadinhas de São Cristóvão, 16, in the parish of Santa Maria Maior, and was contained to an empty and fenced-off building, “without spreading to any other property” and did not cause any casualties or displacement.

According to a source in the municipal civil defense, it was confirmed on Monday afternoon that there is an “immediate objective risk of the remaining part collapsing to the rear.” [fachada oposta ao lado da rua ou à fachada principal] and on the pediment [fachada através da qual o edifício pode encostar aos edifícios contíguos] “right side of the burnt building.”

“The forests located at the entrance to Escadinhas are also at risk of collapsing,” he added.

According to the municipality, the public spaces at number 10 (1st floor right and left) of Travessa da Madalena, which are privately owned, must be closed during the intervention, as well as the access to Escadinhas de São Cristóvão and the access to Travessa da Madalena (numbers 4 to 16) “in order to ensure the safety of passers-by”.

“This ban does not affect the access of any residents, given the possibility that this will be done on the opposite side of the relevant arteries,” he stressed.

According to the municipal civil protection service, the fire caused the interior of the building to collapse and caused minor damage (broken windows) to two neighboring buildings.

The chamber also stressed that the vacant building was “appropriately fenced” and “marked its closure” and was “constantly monitored to enhance security conditions.”

The municipality also emphasized that the last visit to the building took place on July 30, after which the fence was replaced and the signs were strengthened.

During the fire, which was alerted at 11:30 p.m. on Sunday, house number 5 on San Cristóvão Street was evacuated, “with seven residents returning to their homes at 3:00 a.m. after checking the safety conditions,” without any need for relocation.

At 02:22 the fire was declared contained and the Lisbon Fire Regiment (RSB) remained at the scene overnight under surveillance, the same source added.

The judicial police are investigating the causes of the fire.

There were 31 members and 10 vehicles of the Lisbon RSB, eight members and two vehicles of the Lisbon Volunteer Firefighters, two members of the Santa Maria Maior Parish Council, 15 members and four vehicles of the PSP, two units and two vehicles of the Municipal Police and the Municipal Civil Protection Unit on site to fight the fire.