History behind The Joelma Building
The Joelma Building, also known as the Joelma Fire or the Joelma Tragedy, was a high-rise office building located in São Paulo, Brazil. On February 1, 1974, a devastating fire broke out on the 12th floor of the building, quickly spreading to the upper floors due to a lack of fire safety measures.
The Joelma Building: A Brief History
The fire was caused by a short circuit in an air conditioning unit, which quickly spread to nearby materials and ignited the entire floor. The building’s fire alarm system failed to work properly, and there were no sprinklers or fire escapes in the building. As a result, many of the building’s occupants were trapped on the upper floors, unable to escape the flames.
The fire department responded quickly to the scene, but the intense heat and smoke made it difficult for firefighters to reach the upper floors. The building’s stairwells quickly became filled with smoke, and many people were forced to jump from the building to escape the flames.
In total, 188 people died in the fire, making it one of the deadliest fires in Brazilian history. The tragedy sparked a renewed focus on fire safety in Brazil, and new laws were enacted to ensure that buildings were equipped with proper fire safety measures.
The Joelma Building was eventually demolished in 1998, and a new building was constructed in its place. Today, the site is home to the Praça da Bandeira Park.
Researching the Joelma Fire
It’s not possible to take a tour of the Joelma Building as it was demolished in 1998. As mentioned earlier, a new building was constructed in its place, and the site is now occupied by the Praça da Bandeira Park.
However, there are still many historical accounts and images available that depict the building and the tragic events that occurred there. Additionally, there are several museums and memorials throughout Brazil that commemorate the Joelma Fire and its victims.
Hotels nearby The Joelma Building
As mentioned earlier, the Joelma Building has been demolished and replaced by the Praça da Bandeira Park. However, here are some hotel options in the surrounding areas of São Paulo with their addresses, phone numbers, and approximate distances from the city center:
Address: Avenida Ipiranga, 770 – República, São Paulo – SP, 01040-000, Brazil;
Phone: +55 11 3331-1400;
Distance from city center: approximately 2.4 miles.
Address: Rua Santo Antônio, 60 – Centro Histórico de São Paulo, São Paulo – SP, 01004-001, Brazil;
Phone: +55 11 3508-8500;
Distance from city center: approximately 2.2 miles.
Ibis budget São Paulo São João
Address: Rua Conselheiro Nébias, 887 – Campos Elíseos, São Paulo – SP, 01203-001, Brazil;
Phone: +55 11 3331-2900;
Distance from city center: approximately 2.5 miles.
Address: Rua Augusta, 1149 – Cerqueira César, São Paulo – SP, 01305-100, Brazil;
Phone: +55 11 3173-5000;
Distance from city center: approximately 3.4 miles.
Address: Avenida das Nações Unidas, 12901 – Brooklin Novo, São Paulo – SP, 04578-000, Brazil;
Phone: +55 11 2845-0000;
Distance from city center: approximately 6.3 miles.
