A large fire struck the Santa Fé bar in Brasília's Jardim Botânico neighborhood on the night of November 14, completely destroying the Gracie Barra jiu-jitsu academy on the second floor. At least three students were surrounded by flames and had to jump over the roof to escape. No one suffered serious injuries, and firefighters controlled the blaze in about 20 minutes.
The fire started at the Santa Fé bar in Jardim Botânico, Federal District, and quickly spread to the Gracie Barra jiu-jitsu academy on the second floor of the building on the night of Friday, November 14. Tall flames were visible from afar, consuming much of the establishment, especially the upper floor, where items fell from the ceiling as the blaze spread.
At least three academy students, including 37-year-old administrator Filipe Firmino, were on site after training when they noticed smoke and the ceiling collapsing. They tried to exit through a back window but, surrounded by flames, decided to jump over the roof in stages. Firmino recounted: “I was chatting with two friends after training when one noticed the smoke and saw the ceiling falling. [...] We said to each other: ‘Dude, we're going to have to jump the roof’. It was very high and we couldn't descend all at once, but we jumped in three stages, level by level”.
A video recorded by one of the students captures the tense moment: “Everything's on fire”, the young man says, while a colleague asks for the Fire Department number. An explosion is heard during the call, and they comment: “Oh shit”. They ask about an extinguisher, but reply: “There isn't one”.
The CBMDF was called along with the Military Police (PMDF) and controlled the flames in about 20 minutes, preventing the fire from spreading to other areas. First Lieutenant Éder Silva stated: “One person was transported [to the hospital] for observation, but apparently it's nothing serious. There are no burn victims”. Regional administrator Aderivaldo Cardoso confirmed: “Only one person who inhaled a lot of smoke was taken to the hospital. The owner [of the bar] was very nervous and shaken and also needed care”.
Students, teachers, and staff were in the crowded academy at the time, but no one was seriously injured. The fire's causes are unknown and will be investigated by CBMDF and Federal District Civil Police (PCDF) expertise. The DF Civil Defense was also called.