On Tuesday afternoon (31), a two-story house was partially burned in the Efapi area, in Chapeco, in the west of Santa Catarina (31). According to the Military Fire Department, no one was injured in the incident.

The fire destroyed the second floor of the house – Photo: Reproduction/ND

The fire reportedly started in an office on the second floor of the building located on Rua Quilombo. Rescue crews were called at around 2.40pm and found the house on fire, threatening to engulf neighboring houses.

“When we got here, the fire had already left the residence, so nearby houses were protected. With the support of the center’s truck, we fought an offensive battle inside the residence, and then the aftermath,” said firefighter Gelson Paliosa.

14:42 LOCAL FIRE: Rua Quilombo, EFAPI, #CHAPECO – suspected fire, brick house.

— Emergency Service 193 (CBMSC) (@CBMSC193) October 31, 2023

Firefighters managed to save only 10% of the second floor, which was destroyed by fire and smoke. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but according to the fire service, the fire started due to overheating of a computer located in an office building.

“The heated gases rose, settled on the zinc roof and spread throughout the house. There was a computer, at first it could overheat,” Paliosa explained. A cloud of dark smoke formed that could be seen several meters away.

The fire destroyed the second floor of the house – Video: Reproduction/ND