The tragedy occurred on February 1, 1974.
The fire, originating from the wiring (short circuit) that powered the air conditioning, started on the 12th floor of the building, located in São Paulo - SP, causing a fire that killed 187 people.
In its time, it was the worst building tragedy in terms of fatalities, surpassed only by the events of September 11th.
Facts of the tragedy:
- The tragedy happened less than two months before another tragedy in another building in the same city, the Andraus Building.
- The first ten floors were parking garages.
- There was a huge water tank in the building, connected to fire hoses, but the janitor had shut off the water to prevent people from using it to wash cars.
- The fire was identified early on, originating from an electrical installation for the air conditioning on the 12th floor, but without safety equipment, the fire reached the twentieth floor in about twenty minutes.
- The fire spread very quickly due to wooden furniture, fabric curtains, and carpeting present in many offices.
- The building regulations at the time were from the 1930s (1932), when the city had about 700,000 people and no skyscrapers.
- At the end of the same year, the movie "The Towering Inferno" was released. While not based on the actual events, it's certain that people made a connection to what happened.
- Many people used the elevator to leave the building, something unthinkable today. In this tragedy, thirteen people were trapped in an elevator and were incinerated. None of the thirteen bodies were identified and all were buried in a local cemetery, becoming known as the thirteen souls.
- The building underwent extensive renovation and is still in operation today.
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The Joelma Building: A Landmark in Architecture and a Symbol of Tragedy
The Joelma Building, located in the heart of São Paulo, on Avenida 9 de Julho, is one of the city's most recognizable structures. Designed by renowned architect Hélio B apakah, its construction was completed in 1973. The building stood out for its modern and bold architecture, featuring a "Y" shaped floor plan and facades covered in tiles. Originally, the building housed offices and residences, becoming an important center for commercial and residential activities in the region.
However, the Joelma Building became tragically etched in Brazil's collective memory due to a devastating event: the major fire that occurred on February 1, 1974. The fire started on the 13th floor, around 8:52 AM, and quickly spread to a large part of the 25-story building's structure.
The 1974 Fire: Causes, Spread, and Consequences
Subsequent investigations indicated that the fire originated from an electrical short circuit on one of the floors. The rapid spread of the fire was attributed to several factors:
- The presence of flammable materials in the offices, such as carpets and wooden partitions.
- The building's internal ventilation system, which facilitated the spread of flames.
- The lack of efficient sprinkler systems and fire alarms at the time.
- The difficulty for firefighters to access the upper floors due to the building's height and the density of the smoke.
The fire lasted for over 30 hours and resulted in the deaths of 189 people, with hundreds more injured. Many victims could not evacuate the building in time, becoming trapped by the smoke and flames. The drama of people jumping from the windows in search of safety shocked the country and the world.
Impact and Legacy of the Joelma Building
The Joelma Building fire marked a turning point in fire safety legislation in Brazil. The safety failures identified in the building led to the review and improvement of technical standards and laws related to fire prevention and suppression in buildings.
After the incident, the building underwent an extensive renovation and modernization process, focusing on the implementation of stricter safety systems. The Joelma Building was reopened in 1978, but the memory of the tragedy has always accompanied its history. It became a symbol of the importance of fire prevention and a somber reminder of the risks associated with safety failures in large buildings.
Today, the Joelma Building continues to be an important landmark in São Paulo's urban landscape. Its history, marked by architectural grandeur and tragedy, offers valuable lessons about safety, responsibility, and human resilience in the face of adversity.
