Eight people were provided with overnight accommodation after a fire swept through a three-storey residential building on Rua da Boa Viagem, in Funchal’s Old Town, late on Friday, the 25th of September.
Some of those displaced lived in neighbouring properties. Although the flames did not spread beyond the building where the fire began, smoke made it unsafe for at least one nearby household to remain at home.
A resident and a firefighter suffered minor injuries and were taken to Dr Nélio Mendonça Hospital as a precaution. Válter Ferreira, deputy commander of the Regional Civil Protection Service, said the alert was received at 23:33.
The initial report suggested that the Chapel of Boa Viagem was on fire. Firefighters arriving at the scene established that the blaze was in a nearby residential building, which was already engulfed in flames. With buildings close together in the surrounding block, crews concentrated on stopping the fire from spreading.
The initial response involved 42 personnel and 16 vehicles. Funchal Firefighters and Madeiran Volunteer Firefighters attended, with the operation later reinforced by Santa Cruz Firefighters. Police established a safety perimeter in adjoining streets, while some Old Town businesses, including the Lust Vintage bar, closed temporarily for safety and to allow emergency crews room to work.
The fire was brought under control at 02:45 on Saturday, the 26th of September. Crews remained at the scene overnight to watch for any reignition, and some personnel were still in the area during the morning.
It is the second significant building fire reported in central Funchal in just over a week. A fire broke out on Rua do Sabão on the 18th of September, prompting evacuations from nearby premises. No injuries were reported in that incident, although there were subsequent reignitions.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
Views: 159
