Official Note - Response to Fantástico
By Flamengo Communication - inClube de Regatas do Flamengo informs that a producer from Fantástico contacted the Communications Department on Saturday and Sunday afternoon (17) and sent questions about the incident that occurred on 08/02 at the George Helal Training Center.
The Club issued an official statement and responded to all the questions submitted. On Sunday's program (17), Fantástico aired just some of the answers submitted.
Below, we present in full what was officially reported to the program's producer on Sunday afternoon:
OFFICIAL NOTE TO FANTÁSTICO
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo considers that, at this stage of the investigation, any conclusion is premature and speculative, since information gathered from new witnesses, documents and expert analyses will still be added to the investigation.
The Club reiterates its willingness to collaborate with any and all public bodies and authorities that are acting to ensure that the causes of the tragic fire that occurred in the habitable accommodation of CT George Helal are clarified.
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo will not comment on the content of statements that are still under investigation. This would not be responsible behavior. The search for clarification of the facts is the responsibility of the police, and the investigation is ongoing.
Flamengo will continue to cooperate with the investigations and await the conclusion of the work being carried out by the authorities.
ANSWERS TO THE FANTASTIC
1 - Who was responsible for the maintenance of the accommodations that caught fire (plumbing and electrical)... Flamengo or NHJ do Brasil?
ANSWER - Air conditioning maintenance has been performed by Collman Refrigeração for 20 years. It's worth noting that the CT has permanent teams to perform general plumbing and electrical maintenance, among other services.
2 - Did Flamengo have a maintenance service contract with NHJ do Brasil? Is the contract still in effect? What type of work was the company supposed to perform?
ANSWER - Yes, the contract is in effect. This company has renowned expertise in its segment, with large clients such as Organizações Globo, Petrobras, and others. It's worth noting that NHJ's housing modules are already supplied with all electrical installations, in accordance with ABNT, NBR-5410, and NR-10 standards, which address safety in electrical installations and services. All PVC materials used for conduits, gutters, and junction boxes are flame-retardant.
Flexible cables used in electrical circuits also have flame-retardant properties. Finally, circuit breakers are always installed according to the type of module to be used—in the case of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, according to the electrical blueprint already submitted to the authorities.
3 - Why didn't Flamengo install a fire prevention system in the accommodations?
RESPONSE - Flamengo believes that the existing fire prevention measures in place are those recommended by the manufacturer, NHJ. According to the company, NHJ's housing modules feature flame-retardant treatment, flame-retardant electrical circuits, and individual circuit breakers, which should trip in the event of a short circuit.
According to the rental company's contract, the entire structure and electrical system are already installed by the factory. The contract does not recommend the use of smoke detectors, nor does it mandate their use in that type of accommodation.
4 - Why hasn't Flamengo closed Ninho do Urubu yet, despite having a closure order since October 2017?
RESPONSE - Flamengo was and still is working hard to address all the administrative issues that led to the closure—which have nothing to do with security issues. The training center is closed for overnight stays. Therefore, only the training fields and locker rooms are being made available.
The complete closure of the training center would cause, as it already has, severe harm to hundreds of young athletes who study there and receive multidisciplinary assistance of the highest level.
5 - Does Flamengo intend to close the unit on Monday or does it intend to appeal the decision taken by the city hall in 2017?
RESPONSE - Flamengo understands that the mere daytime use of its training fields by the professional squad does not pose any risk. The Club reiterates that no one is using the facilities at night.
Flamengo is considering measures that could lift the ban, allowing the fields and locker rooms to be used during the day, and until the minor requirements regarding the properties are met. All modules have been deactivated and will be removed from the training center as they are no longer needed.
6 - What kind of activities have been carried out at Ninho in recent days?
ANSWER - Only daytime training, for adult athletes, and no overnight stay at the CT.
7 - What kind of modifications (works) are already being made at Ninho do Urubu?
ANSWER - All adjustments requested by the authorities are being made. The housing modules will no longer be used, as Building 1 of the training center (which was intended for professional athletes) has been allocated to youth academy students who need to be housed in Rio de Janeiro.
8 - Where will the youth athletes train and live?
RESPONSE - The operation involving youth athletes with families in cities other than Rio de Janeiro has been completely suspended due to a court order requested by the Public Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents. Receiving adolescents is an extremely delicate and complex process.
The Club cannot accommodate hundreds of youth athletes anywhere other than the training center, which is structured to provide schooling, medical and dental care, meals, nutritionists, educators, monitors, and other professionals who ensure the well-being of the youth team. It is impossible to replicate this entire athlete support structure in any setting other than the training center.
Flamengo understands that these young people are being harmed by the ban on daytime use, as are 350 other athletes who used the CT fields.