A fire occurred at the Faculty of Law building of the University of São Paulo (USP) on the night of Thursday, October 26, in downtown São Paulo. The blaze affected the historic Palácio do Comércio, a building recently transferred to USP by the state government. The Faculty's director was informed of the event while at home, and she supervised the firefighting efforts from the street. Firefighters were called at approximately 10:20 PM and managed to control the fire within an hour.

Bystanders reported that the fire originated from the air conditioning system and rapidly spread through the building’s ceiling. The director, Ana Bechara, was eventually allowed into the building along with firefighters to assess the situation. Emergency responders indicated that there was significant water accumulation on the third floor, where the fire occurred. Firefighters are currently investigating the cause of the fire and its possible implications for ongoing academic activities within the faculty.

The incident raises concerns about fire safety and the integrity of historic buildings utilized for educational purposes. Given the importance of the Faculty of Law at USP, the rapid response of the firefighting team was crucial in preventing further damage. The authorities will likely conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future, impacting not only the structure but also the academic community dependent on it for education and administration.