Lisbon’s Historic District Ravaged by Fire; 1 Dead, 43 Hurt

Walls of flames swept through Lisbon’s historic Chiado district Thursday, devastating much of the 10-block area that has been the commercial and literary heart of the capital since the 18th Century. One person was killed and 43 were injured, officials said.

Bottles of butane gas stacked in stores exploded throughout the morning as the flames rushed through the ornate buildings that housed cafes and specialty stores on the narrow, cobblestone streets.

Police cordoned off the area and evacuated an estimated 300 residents. By late afternoon, the fire had been contained, but a heavy pall of smoke hung over the area.

The fire was reported at 3 a.m., but by the time firefighters arrived, flames were shooting from the windows of the three-story Armazens do Grandela department store.

None of the buildings were fitted with a sprinkler system. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

Socialist President Mario Soares and conservative Prime Minister Anibal Cavaco Silva toured the fire scene. They said the city would have to make “a major effort” to rebuild the area and help the estimated 2,000 people who lost their jobs.

A 60-year-old man died in flames that engulfed his modest apartment and 43 others, mostly firefighters, were hospitalized.