A devastating fire in a building in Chamberí has caused the collapse of its roof, leaving 55 families evacuated. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident.
In the early hours of Monday, a large-scale fire broke out in a residential building located at number 52 on García de Paredes Street, in Chamberí. The flames originated on the seventh floor of the building and quickly spread, causing the total collapse of the wooden roof. Despite the chaos and significant material damage, emergency services confirmed that there were no injuries or severely affected individuals.
The fire started for reasons still unknown and rapidly spread to both facades of the building. The intensity of the heat caused the structure to give way, accumulating debris on the roof of the sixth floor. In response to the incident, a total of 18 fire units from the Madrid City Fire Brigade were deployed to control the flames and prevent the fire from reaching the adjacent building, number 54.
The intervention was crucial to ensure the safety of the residents. All 55 homes affected were completely evacuated: six on the seventh floor and 49 distributed between the ground floor and the sixth. While the upper floors suffered direct damage from the flames and the collapse, the lower floors were flooded due to the water used during the extinguishing efforts.
The timing of the fire coincided with the summer holiday period, which proved favourable in minimising personal consequences; many neighbours were away enjoying their holidays. Throughout the day, firefighters and municipal technicians conducted a thorough assessment of the structural state of the building. Although it was confirmed that the main load-bearing structure had not suffered significant damage up to the sixth floor, residents will not be able to return to their homes immediately due to the lack of basic supplies such as running water and electricity.
Residents of number 54 have already been able to return to their homes after being evacuated as a precautionary measure. However, those affected by the fire have received assistance from Samur Social; 15 people, belonging to seven different families, have been temporarily relocated while urgent housing solutions are managed.
From now on, plans to allow a staggered return home are underway. Residents from the ground floor to the fifth could return after completing preliminary work estimated to take between one to two weeks. On the other hand, those living on the sixth floor will have to wait longer due to the necessary debris removal before a temporary roof can be placed.
The six homes completely affected on the seventh floor will be considered uninhabitable until significant reconstruction work is carried out once initial efforts are completed. To protect the property from potential weather conditions during this process, work has already begun to implement preventive measures such as fencing the perimeter and installing necessary machinery.
Interested neighbours can consult with municipal services on how to proceed with their personal belongings while awaiting news about their permanent relocation.
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