Fire Breaks Out at Ministry of Science and Technology Substation in Brasília, Causing Power Outage
A fire at the Ministry of Science and Technology’s substation in Brasília caused a power outage but no injuries, with emergency teams swiftly containing the blaze.
- • A fire broke out at the Ministry of Science and Technology substation on February 19, 2026.
- • The Military Fire Department quickly extinguished the fire after power was cut for safety.
- • No injuries or evacuation occurred during the incident.
- • Neoenergia is investigating the cause and managing restoration efforts.
Key details
On the morning of February 19, 2026, a fire incident erupted at the energy substation supplying the Ministry of Science and Technology in Brasília. The Military Fire Department of the Federal District (CBMDF) responded swiftly to the fire, which was reported around 7:42 AM. Firefighters quickly controlled the small blaze after the power supply to the substation was cut off for safety reasons by Neoenergia, the local electricity distributor.
Fortunately, there were no injuries, and no evacuation of the Ministry building—which also houses staff from the Ministries of Cities, Integration, and Social Development—was necessary. The fire was contained within the substation, with no spread to other parts of the structure. Neoenergia and fire teams have remained on-site to investigate the cause of the incident and manage the situation, but no specific details on the origins of the fire have yet been released.
This incident follows a prior explosion in November 2025 at another ministry’s substation that resulted in one fatality and several injuries, highlighting the critical importance of electrical infrastructure safety. Neoenergia has not yet provided a timeline for when power will be fully restored to the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The prompt firefighting efforts prevented further damage or harm, allowing ministry operations to continue relatively uninterrupted aside from the temporary power outage. Investigations into the cause remain ongoing.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (4)
Source comparison
Evacuation of the building
Sources report conflicting information about whether employees were evacuated from the building
sbtnews.sbt.com.br
"Employees heard a loud noise around 7 AM and were instructed to evacuate the building."
canalsolar.com.br
"Fortunately, there was no need for evacuation, and no injuries were reported."
g1.globo.com
"the building... did not require evacuation."
correiobraziliense.com.br
"the incident was quickly controlled without the need for evacuation of the building."
Why this matters: One source states that employees were instructed to evacuate, while others indicate that there was no need for evacuation. This discrepancy affects understanding of the incident's severity and response measures.