The fire and collapse of the 26-storey building affected surrounding streets and killed at least one person, the fire department told AP.
The fire started at around 1:30 a.m. on January 1 (local time) and about 150 firefighters participated in the fire extinguishing efforts.
The NPR said the building caught fire and collapsed believed to stem from a gas explosion.
About 50 families are temporarily living in the building, which was once the headquarters of the federal police after it was abandoned.
Romulo de Souza, 49, one of the residents of the house, said the fire started on the 4th floor and then spread outside.
According to this witness, most of the families living temporarily here have fled. He said the fire could have been caused by a gas leak.
