[NYTr] Fire Guts Venezuela's Tallest Skyscraper
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AFP via Independent Online (South Africa) - Oct 18, 2004
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=122&art_id=qw1098048605507V524
Blaze guts Venezuela's tallest skyscraper
Caracas - Hundreds of firefighters backed by helicopters battled a
raging blaze that destroyed at least twelve floors of Venezuela's
tallest skyscraper on Sunday.
Authorities said nobody died in the fire, but at least 25 firefighters
were injured after inhaling toxic gases.
Officials do not know the origin of the fire that broke out in the
pre-dawn hours at a government office inside the East Tower of the
Central Park building complex.
"We thought it (the fire) would stop on the 34th floor," said
Infrastructure Minister Ramon Carrizales. But once the flames got inside
the building's ventilation ducts they jumped "to the 44th floor with
great violence," he said.
The downtown building, one of the tallest in Latin America, is 54
stories high.
About 200 firefighters supported by soldiers fought the flames for more
than 12 hours. Military helicopters ferried water to the building to
help douse the flames.
Enormous window panes crashed to the ground as the glass loosened from
its fixtures. A thick cloud of black smoke from the fire could be seen
billowing across the capital.
The reinforced concrete skyscraper, built in 1979, is filled with
government agencies and ministries, but is also home to the Caracas
Museum of Contemporary Art, which owns a valuable collection of abstract
art.
Interior and Justice Minister Jesse Chacon said at mid-afternoon that
firefighters working inside the building were ordered to leave out of
fear the whole structure would collapse. All nearby buildings were also
ordered evacuated.
City firefighter chief Rodolfo Briceno told reporters that his men were
hampered by low water pressure due to a "lack of maintenance" of the
emergency and rescue equipment inside the building.
The East Tower was not properly equipped to put out fires, Briceno added.
***
Bloomberg - Oct 17, 2004
http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=acJR4M3y4wsE&refer=latin_america#
Venezuela Says Fire at Caracas's Tallest Building Under Control
Oct. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela said firemen have a blaze at the capital's
Parque Central, South America's tallest skyscraper, under control, nearly 20
hours after it started. The cause of the blaze remains unknown.
`The fire is under control, although there are still some flashpoints,''
Antonio Rivero, head of the country's civil defense association, said in
televised remarks to reporters. There were no casualties, and damages are
still being compiled, he said. The building, which houses government
ministries and agencies, was unoccupied at the time of the blaze due to the
weekend.
The fire destroyed the top third of the east tower of Venezuela's Parque
Central, the 56-storey landmark in the capital of Caracas, Metropolitan Fire
Chief Rodolfo Briceno said in a televised press conference. At least 15
firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation, he said.
The fire, which began about 1 a.m., spread from the 34th floor to the top of
the 56-story building, Briceno said. The fire didn't affect the shorter West
tower or an adjoining apartment center. Briceno initially said he couldn't
rule out that the building might collapse because of the heavy structural
damage.
Rivero said later that there was slight chance of a collapse. Police blocked
off the main access streets to the skyscraper which with its sister towers
over the city's downtown.
`Losses are immense,'' Justice and Interior Minister Jesse Chacon told
reporters a short distance from the smoldering tower.
Military Helicopters
Firefighters broke the blaze under control with the help of military
helicopters, which ferried in water to dump on the blaze. Neighboring
buildings were evacuated. Briceno said the fire spread as safety systems
hadn't been properly maintained.
`The sprinkler system didn't work,'' Briceno said. `There's no water
pressure up there.''
The building, erected between 1978 and 1984, houses government agencies
including the Infrastructure Ministry and the Civil Aviation Agency. The
Sofia Imber Museum of Contemporary Art, Latin America's largest collection
of modernistic works, is also partially housed in the tower's base.
Thousands pass daily through the towers, which also include shops,
restaurants and theaters.
Briceno said it was too early to determine the cause of the blaze.
The east tower is the largest skyscraper in South America, said Emporis, a
real estate information compiler, on its Web site.
*
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