The demolition of structures and roofing is taking place as part of an “urgent intervention” following the fire that broke out on Sunday in an abandoned building on Escadinhas de São Cristóvão, in the Lisbon parish of Santa Maria Maior. The building is part of a group of three residential buildings, according to the Lisbon City Council (CML).
Following the fire, “CML immediately took all measures to ensure the safety of residents and passersby, including the demolition of the building.”
For the intervention to take place, the city council indicated that it is necessary to implement a large crane and its construction site in Largo de São Cristóvão (in front of the church) to proceed with the “demolition of structures and roofing” of the building.
“Given the size of the equipment, the specifics of the work, and the characteristics of the location, it is necessary to completely cut off vehicular traffic in Largo de São Cristóvão,” warned the CML.
Since it is a one-way street, “the section between Largo de São Cristóvão and Rua do Marquês de Ponte do Lima will be temporarily converted into a dead end, with circulation exclusive to local traffic, which will now be carried out in both directions,” added the municipality.
The fire occurred on Sunday night at number 16 Escadinhas de São Cristóvão and was confined to the abandoned and fenced building, “not spreading to any other property,” nor causing victims or displaced persons, according to civil protection.
On Monday, a municipal civil protection source said that CML was intervening in the abandoned building that burned on Sunday in the Baixa area due to an “immediate objective risk of collapse of the remnant to the rear and to the right side wall of the burned building.”
“Also, the scaffolding located at the entrance of Escadinhas threatens to collapse,” they added.
In this regard, the president of the Santa Maria Maior Parish Council, Miguel Coelho (PS), stated that the abandoned building that burned was frequented by drug users, despite being fenced off, and that he had already alerted the municipality, which owns the building.
The local official emphasized that illegal occupants accessed the interior through a hole in the fence and stressed that CML, presided over by Social Democrat Carlos Moedas, was warned about this situation. About two weeks ago, he went to the site with city council elements, including the Municipal Police, to show the state of the building.
“What is regrettable is that the city council is not quick to resolve these issues,” he lamented.
The fire, which started on Sunday night and was brought under control at 02:22 on Monday, caused the collapse of the building’s interior and minor damage (broken windows) to two adjacent buildings.
The Judicial Police is analyzing the causes of the fire.
