A resident of the inn that was hit by a fire that killed 10 people and left eight others injured in the early hours of Friday (26) in Porto Alegre risked his own life by returning to the burning building to rescue his partner. Street vendor Jorge Antônio Ferreira told the RBSTV who woke up with “bangs, as soon as the fire started”.
“They didn’t want to let me in, because the fire had already taken over, but I went in. I’m not going to let my wife die. I went in anyway and, thank God, I managed to catch her”, reported the man.
All the couple managed to take from the scene were two backpacks and two bags with blankets, pans and other belongings.
“I don’t have a penny, I don’t know where I’m going, nor where I’ll put the few clothes and pans that we managed to save,” said Jorge.
Jorge and his partner, Juliana, will be taken to the Emergency Hospital (HPS). They will undergo examinations and medical evaluation, as they inhaled smoke during the fire.
The place received people in socially vulnerable situations, according to Porto Alegre City Hall. There were 30 people in the space, which is private, with the stays of 16 of them being supported by public money.
The cause of the fire is still unknown. The Fire Department estimates that the fire spread quickly because the inn’s rooms were very close together. This would have even prevented people who were there from leaving.
The version is opposed to that of the Civil Defense, which is that there is a hypothesis of arson. The General Institute of Expertise (IGP) is the body that can attest to what may have happened.
Large fire hits building in the center of Porto Alegre
The inn is located on Avenida Farrapos, between Garibaldi and Barros Cassal streets, towards the Center-neighborhood. Firefighters went to the scene to fight the fire at around 2am. The fire was brought under control around 5am. On the first floor of the building, two victims were found. In the second, five. In the third, another three.
Eight people were rescued. They needed medical attention and were taken by firefighters and the Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu) to the Emergency Room and Christ the Redeemer hospitals.
According to the Municipal Health Department (SMS), six are in the Emergency Hospital: the health status of four of them is serioustwo of which are intubated, one undergoes surgery and another receives treatment for having smoke inhalation.
At Cristo Redentor Hospital, there are two patients: one has 20% of her body burned and the other injured her ankle.
Firefighters reported that the space operated irregularly.
Tags: wife die resident rescued wife inn hit fire Porto Alegre Rio Grande Sul
