Several buildings in Buenos Aires Street and Quintana Street, both, situated near Rio Branco Avenue, were closed and evacuated as there was danger of smoke inhalation to the residents following the fire.
Military police and public security soldiers assisted the fire brigade as they cleared the area.
Four fire trucks and three other fire prevention vehicles arrived at the site to fight the fire. People gathered the scene as the injured men were transported to hospital for emergency treatment. The firemen worked until late afternoon.
Chief Commander, Roberto Robadey, said that the firemen had inhaled too much smoke and were suffocated because the building had many barriers which made it difficult for them to leave following the explosion partial collapse.
The Fire brigade informed that they will carry out an investigation into the fire to better understand what happened. Unofficially, social media speculated that once the fire was under control the firemen removed their protective equipment.
The Governor of Rio de Janeiro, Wilson Witzel, decreed a three day mourning for the state, following news that the three fire fighters had died. He released a press statement saying, “I have ordered a strict investigation into this tragedy to understand what happened and insure that events like these never happen again. I want to express my sincerest condolences to the families of these men, they were heroes who lost their lives in the line of duty. May God bless them and grant them peace”.
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