Famous Fires In Sport – Flamengo Training Ground Fire

Netflix has released a documentary Dreams To Tragedy: The Fire that Shook Brazilian Football. The documentary details the tragic events that occurred on February 8th 2019 at the Flamengo Training Ground. We will delve into the logistics of what happened.

Tragedy struck the football world as a devastating fire engulfed the training centre of one of Brazil’s most storied football clubs, Flamengo. This horrific event claimed the lives of ten promising young players. It sent shockwaves through the global football community, prompting discussions about safety standards, club responsibility, and the fragile dreams of young athletes.

Dreams To Tragedy: The Fire that Shook Brazilian Football

Across three episodes, the Netflix documentary follows the professional careers of some of the fire’s survivors. Young people who spent a part of their lives at Ninho do Urubu and whose careers have very much moved on. It also features journalists, football professionals and the victims’ families, as they search for answers. In moving accounts, parents voice their pain and reveal how they have been fighting to get justice for their children. Ever since the tragedy occurred. 

In addition to personal accounts, the series features never-before-seen images of the fire and recreates moments from that night. This is all done through scenes dramatised and shot by director Pedro Asbeg. The reconstruction plays an important part in the debate about the causes of a tragedy that has left a lasting mark in the history of Brazilian football. To offer a social reflection in memory of the victims and to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again, it also deals with the direct consequences of the judiciary’s inertia about the fire.

The Ninho do Urubu: A Place of Dreams and Development

The training ground, known as Ninho do Urubu (Nest of the Vulture), was more than just a place where footballers honed their skills. It was a symbol of hope and aspiration for young athletes from across Brazil. Nestled in the western Rio de Janeiro neighbourhood of Vargem Grande, this facility was where dreams were meant to take flight.

Flamengo are one of Brazil’s most popular and successful football clubs. The club invested in the training ground to provide its youth players with the necessary facilities. Ninho do Urubu was complete with several pitches, dormitories, a gymnasium, and classrooms. This is where aspiring footballers not only learned the intricacies of the game but also received education and support for their personal development.

The Tragic Fire

In the early morning hours of February 8, 2019, a fire broke out. The location of the fire was the temporary living quarters in a newly expanded section of the campus. The location had only been permitted by the Rio de Janeiro government as a parking lot. The dorms that were there had already been subjected to 31 fines and a lawsuit owing to the lack of safety. The blaze quickly spread through the makeshift sleeping quarters where young players, some as young as 14, were resting after a day of training. The intensity of the fire and the speed at which it spread left little chance for escape.

Ten young players lost their lives in the fire, sending shock and grief throughout Brazil and beyond. The victims were identified as Athila de Souza Paixão (14), Arthur Vinícius de Barros da Silva Freitas (14), Bernardo Pisetta (14), Christian Esmério Candido (15), Jorge Eduardo dos Santos Ferreira Sacramento (15), Pablo Henrique da Silva Matos (14), Vitor Isaías (15), Samuel Thomas de Souza Rosa (15), Gerdson Santos (14), and Rykelmo de Souza Viana (17).

The tragedy not only claimed the lives of these promising athletes but also left three others with severe injuries, including Cauan Emanuel Gomes Nunes (14 years old), Francisco Dyogo Bento Alves (15), and Jhonatha Cruz Ventura (15). The survivors faced a long road to physical and emotional recovery. Young lives were forever changed by the events of that fateful night.

Investigations and Questions of Responsibility

In the aftermath of the fire, investigations were launched to determine the cause of the tragedy. This would go alongside investigations to ascertain whether proper safety measures were in place at the training centre. The initial findings pointed to a faulty air conditioning unit as the likely cause of the fire. Reports indicated that the unit caught fire and quickly spread flames and smoke throughout the wooden structure of the dormitory.

Questions were raised about the club’s compliance with safety regulations. It was revealed that the training centre lacked proper permits. The club had been fined multiple times for infractions related to fire safety. The tragedy prompted a broader conversation about the responsibilities of football clubs in ensuring the safety and well-being of their young players. Particularly for those in their care at training facilities.

Mourning and Solidarity

The football world came together in mourning for the young lives lost in the fire. Tributes poured in from clubs and fans around the globe. Gestures of solidarity and support for Flamengo and the families affected by the tragedy. Players, coaches, and officials from rival clubs set aside their differences. Expressing their condolences and calling for improved safety standards across the sport.

Flamengo, while grieving the loss of its young talents, faced scrutiny and legal challenges in the wake of the fire. The club pledged to cooperate fully with investigations and to provide support for the families of the victims. The Brazilian football federation, along with government officials, vowed to enact stricter regulations to prevent such a tragedy from occurring again.

Links – Flamengo Training Ground Fire

Image 1 – Brazil’s Flamengo Soccer Club Training Ground – link

Netflix Documentary – link