Salvador ambulances destroyed in suspected arson fire

A large fire destroyed several decommissioned ambulances belonging to the Emergency Mobile Care Service (Samu) in Salvador, Brazil, on Saturday. The vehicles were stored in a private municipal lot in the Pau Miúdo neighborhood.

Authorities suspect the fire was an act of arson. This suspicion is reinforced by a previous incident on August 10, where an attempted fire in the same lot was thwarted by staff. In that earlier instance, materials such as a steel plug and a piece of cloth were found inside a vehicle, suggesting intentionality.

Reports indicate that approximately 24 ambulances were affected. The Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS) confirmed that the damaged vehicles were not part of the active operational fleet; they were out of service and awaiting a public auction process. Consequently, emergency services for the population were not disrupted, and no injuries were reported. Police and the Bahia Military Fire Department are investigating the incident, and the SMS is reviewing surveillance footage to assist in identifying potential suspects.