A devastating fire tore through a Rio de Janeiro factory that produces costumes for the city’s world-famous Carnival, leaving 10 people hospitalized and casting a shadow over preparations for the highly anticipated event.
The blaze erupted early Wednesday morning while workers were asleep inside the factory. According to Rio’s state health department, eight victims are in serious condition after inhaling toxic smoke, while two remain stable.
Firefighters and citizens gather outside a clothing factory which was making costumes for Carnival celebrations, after it caught fire in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, February 12, 2025. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes
A Night of Horror
According to AP, the thick smoke and fast-spreading flames made escape difficult, with several workers struggling to find a way out. Nearby residents heard desperate cries for help, prompting them to alert emergency services.
It took around 90 firefighters to battle the flames and rescue 21 trapped workers. Some were stuck on the top floor, forcing firefighters to cut through steel windows and use ladders to bring them down as black smoke billowed from the building.
Authorities have completely sealed off the factory and an adjacent building, warning that the structure may collapse due to fire damage.
A firefighter stands on a ladder after a fire destroyed a factory that produces Carnival costumes for the lower division samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)
Impact on Carnival Preparations
The factory, Maximus, is one of the most relied upon by samba schools in the lower divisions. Among those affected is Imperio Serrano, a well-known school whose preparations may now be in jeopardy.
The fire’s impact extends beyond the factory walls, directly affecting Carnival planning and the entire production chain involved in creating the elaborate costumes and floats. Organizers have called for an emergency meeting to assess the extent of the damage and determine the next steps.
LigaRJ, the association of samba schools that participate in the festivities, in a post on Instagram, in Portuguese, that the fire “significantly compromised the parade materials of these schools. Império Serrano lost 97% of its costumes stored on site, while Unidos de Bangu and Unidos da Ponte suffered losses of 60% of their costumes, in addition to all the material intended for the production of new costumes.”
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Alarming Working Conditions Under Investigation
In the wake of the tragedy, Rio’s Labor Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into working conditions at the factory. Reports suggest that some workers, including teenagers, were sleeping on-site, raising concerns about unsafe and exploitative labor practices.
This incident has drawn comparisons to a 2011 fire that destroyed months of preparations at a warehouse complex used by Rio’s top 12 samba schools. The latest fire has reignited concerns about safety and labor conditions in the high-pressure lead-up to Carnival.
Members of Grande Rio samba school cry as a fire rages through warehouses of samba schools, where floats, costumes and props of the Rio Carnival are made and kept, in Samba City, Rio de Janeiro February 7, 2011. The fire, which swept through the center of Carnival preparations in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, destroyed hundreds of costumes and floats less than a month ahead of Brazil’s annual festival of hedonism. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes (BRAZIL – Tags: DISASTER)
What Happens Next?
With Carnival fast approaching, samba schools and city officials now face a race against time to recover from this setback. Imperio Serrano has assured the public that safety remains the top priority, promising further updates on the extent of the damage.
