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Electrician saved 4 buses during garage fire in BH

2 sources · 08 Jun 2026 · Share coverage ·

verbatim from the press composed from multiple sources ? no verbatim passage

Maike Cerqueira Melo, a 29-year-old electrician, saved four buses during the fire that destroyed 27 vehicles at a garage in the Dom Cabral neighborhood, northwest region of Belo Horizonte, on Sunday (6/7). The local resident ran 800 meters to the site after seeing the smoke column and entered the yard along with other people to remove vehicles before the flames spread.

Press quotes (1)
O Tempo

"Um dos voluntários foi o jovem Maike Cerqueira Melo, de 29 anos. Ele mora a cerca de 800 metros da garagem e estava fazendo um churrasco com a família quando percebeu a imensa coluna de fumaça preta cortando o céu."

"It was chaos, it seemed like hell. I've never seen so many buses burning together," Maike told O Tempo newspaper. According to the Fire Department, 23 officers worked to combat the flames that started in a vacant lot behind the Viação Anchieta yard. Three company employees were at the site when the fire began: a security guard, a mechanic, and an electrician.

Press quotes (1)
G1

"Segundo o Corpo de Bombeiros, 27 coletivos foram destruídos pelo fogo. Ninguém ficou ferido. Viaturas da corporação e 23 militares atuaram no combate às chamas... De acordo com o Corpo de Bombeiros, três funcionários da empresa estavam no local quando o incêndio começou: um segurança, um mecânico e um eletricista."

The fire mobilized local residents who helped rescue the vehicles. According to Maike, the group managed to access the yard after forcing the main entrance. "We removed what we could, especially those in risk areas," he told EM.com.br, which identified him as "Mike Cerqueira Melo." Civil Police are investigating suspicion of arson. ?

Press quotes (1)
Estado de Minas

"O eletricista Mike Cerqueira Melo, de 29 anos, contou que atuou junto a outras pessoas no resgate dos ônibus que ainda estavam no pátio, já tomado por fumaça intensa e calor extremo... Eu pelo menos tirei uns três ou quatro (ônibus). Mas teve mais gente ajudando também."

1. What we know (1)

27 buses were destroyed in the fire

2 sources G1 O Tempo
2. Where coverage thins out (2)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (1)

Fire may have criminal origin in vacant lot

Reported by: O Tempo
Did not cover: Estado de Minas

Conflicting versions (1)

Spelling of electrician's name

1 source — "Name is 'Mike Cerqueira Melo": Estado de Minas
1 source — "Name is 'Maike Cerqueira Melo": O Tempo
3. What we don't know yet (2)
  • What is the correct spelling of the electrician's name?

    Why it's still unknown: EM.com.br identifies him as 'Mike Cerqueira Melo', while O Tempo uses 'Maike Cerqueira Melo'. Official Fire Department report was not found in public archives.

  • How many people exactly helped rescue the buses?

    Why it's still unknown: The electrician mentions 'about two more people' and his father, but does not specify names or roles of other volunteers.

All sources

2