The Moinho favela, in the center of São Paulo, caught fire this past Monday morning (17). The fire reached an area of 2 thousand m², destroyed 80 homes and left 300 people homeless. Eighteen vehicles were used to fight the flames.
The fire started due to a fight between a gay couple. Fidelis Melo de Jesus, 37 years old, better known as Eliete, had a disagreement with her boyfriend Damião de Mello, 38 years old, and decided to set the boy on fire.
The couple was fighting over drug problems when Eliete, with the help of a lighter and a gas cylinder, managed to set her boyfriend on fire. The neighbors heard Damião's screams and broke into the shack.
Damião was burned to death and the fire soon spread to other shacks in the favela. Eliete fled immediately, but was later arrested in the act by the police in an Emergency Room. She will be charged with qualified homicide and intentional arson, when there is intent.
