A large fire broke out at the Teatro Universitário (TUCA) of the Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR) in Curitiba on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, shortly before a scheduled ceremony for the delivery of lab coats to first-year medical students. The incident occurred in the late afternoon, leading to the evacuation of the university campus as flames spread rapidly, affecting other areas.
According to reports, the fire began in an air conditioning unit just before the ceremony was set to commence. Julia Mazza Auer, a first-year medical student, described the tense moments as chaos erupted. "I was at the lab coat ceremony. We were about to start when the gas leak happened. There was a loud noise, and all the medical students had just entered. Parents were starting to look around and then we heard shouting—fire, fire, fire!" she recalled.
Fortunately for Auer and her family, who were positioned at the back of the theater, they managed to exit the building quickly. "By luck, my family and I were at the back. Everyone started to leave, and we got out okay. We had no idea how serious it would get. Thankfully, we hadn’t officially started the ceremony yet," she said. However, she expressed concern over the absence of a fire brigade at the scene, noting that it delayed evacuation efforts. "What saddens me is that there was no fire brigade present, so it took a while for everyone to respond. We had to wait in line to pay for parking while trying to leave, but thankfully, we made it out without much chaos," Auer added.
The fire department responded swiftly, dispatching at least twelve teams from various neighborhoods across Curitiba to combat the blaze. The flames were brought under control approximately thirty minutes after the first responders arrived. Firefighters reported that the theater's carpeted floor contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, creating thick smoke that filled the area.
At the time of the incident, many students were arriving for classes, only to find the campus in disarray. Frederico Reimann, a law student who arrived as the fire escalated, described the scene. "As soon as I got out of the car in the Red Block, I could see the smoke and the firefighters trying to contain the fire. It looked like a war zone. From where I was standing, I could see flames consuming a large area. Within three minutes, the fire was spreading rapidly," Reimann said.
While the TUCA was the primary location affected, reports indicated that the fire also reached the university's food area, where several restaurants operate, and completely destroyed the Computer Lab. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries.
In response to the fire, PUCPR suspended all classes and on-site activities for the following day, Wednesday, April 16, 2025, and noted that there would also be no classes on Thursday, April 17, Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21, due to the Easter holiday. The university issued a statement emphasizing the importance of safety and cooperation during this time. "We understand this is a moment that requires attention, care, and cooperation. We ask everyone to stay alert for official communications that will be sent in the coming days through the PUCPR app and institutional email," the statement read.
As the investigation into the cause of the fire continues, the university has urged the community not to spread false information. They have committed to providing updates as more information becomes available.
Local authorities have also been active in managing the situation, blocking several streets in the Prado Velho neighborhood to facilitate emergency response efforts. The thick smoke from the fire was visible from a distance, causing significant traffic disruptions in the area.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of this incident, students and faculty alike are left reflecting on the close call and the importance of safety measures in educational institutions. The swift response from the fire department and the absence of injuries are seen as fortunate outcomes in an otherwise alarming situation.
The PUCPR community now looks forward to resuming its normal activities as soon as it is safe to do so, with many hoping that this incident will lead to improved safety protocols in the future.
