The largest fires in Russia are associated not only with natural disasters. Often people become their culprits. Often, precisely because of human negligence, tragedy takes on a large scale, as a result of which dozens, and sometimes hundreds, of innocent people suffer. The list includes fires, which are one of the largest and are not associated with natural disasters.
10. Fire in the Winter Palace
Fire in the Winter Palace (St. Petersburg) ─ one of the largest in the history of Russia, which caused the death of the greatest historical monument of architecture. By order of Emperor Nicholas, windows were knocked out in the palace, which became fatal for the building. Flames began to spread across the floors of the building at lightning speed, as a result of which the palace was almost destroyed. At the time of the tragedy, several dozen guards were killed, who were ordered to save the most valuable things inside.
9. Fire in the Samara police department
Fire in Samara police department. One of the most tragic fires in Russia at the end of the 20th century claimed the lives of fifty employees of the department. The causes of the fire have not yet been established. There are several versions about this. One of them is the negligence of one of the employees who did not put out the cigarette butt in a plastic ballot box. Another of them is organized by arson of a criminal group.
8. Fire in Moscow City
Fire in Moscow City (Moscow). One of the skyscrapers burst into flames in April 2012. A fire broke out on the sixty-seventh floor of the building. The fire swept instantly over vast territory due to the violent wind. Fortunately, there were no injuries, and the fire was liquidated within a few hours with the help of helicopters and firefighters, who had to climb on foot to the epicenter of a rampage fire.
7. Fire in the hostel of RUDN
Fire in the hostel of RUDN University (Moscow). A terrible event occurred in 2003 at the hostel of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. The fire occurred at night, and the source of its spread was an empty room in the dormitory, where the circuit occurred. As a result of the incident, about fifty people died and several hundred students were hospitalized with burns and injuries. Many of them were seriously affected by suffocation, while others were injured as they jumped out of the hostel's windows.
6. Fire in a nursing home
Fire in a nursing home (Yeysk). The tragedy occurred in the spring of 2007, when flame tongues claimed 62 lives, of which 61 were permanent residents of this house and a sixty-second was a nurse who tried to help older people get out. In total, there were about a hundred people in the building, and only one third managed to escape. The cause of death of many patients was choking from puffs of smoke that flooded the walls of the building. Some of the victims who managed to escape received burns of varying degrees. After the tragedy, an investigation began during which it was found out that there were several violations of the fire safety rules that were ignored by the senior management.
5. Fire at the Lame Horse Club
Fire at the Lame Horse Club (Perm). One of the largest tragedies in Russia of the 21st century, associated with the fire, occurred in 2009. That night, the nightclub celebrated its eighth year of existence. At the time of the tragedy, there were over two hundred people in the institution. About half of those present died as a result of panic and stampede at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire was a show with fireworks, which was part of the festive program. Indoors, a fire started, resulting from sparks. Most people died from the huge clouds of carbon monoxide that arose.
4. Fire in the hotel Leningrad
Fire at the Leningrad Hotel (St. Petersburg). The tragedy occurred in 1991, as a result of which several floors of the building caught fire and more than a dozen people died. The cause of the fire was the occurrence of a short circuit. The walls of the hotel had a plastic finish, which contributed to the rapid spread of flame throughout the territory. The hotel staff tried to cope with the fire on their own, but soon the situation began to get out of control and they had to go to the fire department. At the time of the fire, nine firefighters died.
3. Fire at the Ostankino tower
Fire at the Ostankino Tower (Moscow) considered one of the largest technological disasters that occurred in Russia. The tragedy occurred in 2000, and the fire was at an altitude of 460 meters. As a result, three floors were completely destroyed by flames. During the fire, three people were killed, who were at that moment in a high-speed elevator, which collapsed from three hundred meters high down as a result of structural damage. Due to the high temperature that arose from the fire of 149 cables, responsible for the stability of the tower, 120 burst. There were fears that the concrete structure would collapse, but fortunately it survived. Broadcasting of many Moscow television channels was interrupted for almost a week. In addition to the claimed lives, the tragedy caused damage estimated at several hundred million dollars.
2. Railway accident near Ufa
Railway accident near Ufa. One of the largest fires in the history of Russia occurred in 1989. Its consequence was the emergence of a powerful explosion of natural gas, the leak of which occurred due to the hole formed in the gas pipeline due to work being carried out nearby. Gas in large quantities accumulated in the lowlands, after which it ignited. This is one of the versions of the tragedy that happened. Also, a fire that contributed to the failure to comply with the safety requirements of the gas pipeline builders. Initially, the pipe was intended for the transportation of oil, but then it was decided to make a gas pipeline out of it, which contradicted all safety standards. At the time of the disaster, two trains met in a gassed area and there was a severe explosion, which claimed hundreds of lives and left more than 600 people with disabilities. For four days, rescuers evacuated the bodies of the dead from the wreckage of the wagon.
1. Moscow fire of 1812
Moscow fire of 1812. The largest fire in Russia occurred during the French occupation of Moscow. Tongues of flame swept the Earth and White cities, as well as their outskirts. Fire consumed about 80% of all wooden buildings. Expert historians put forward several versions of the fire, one of which says about the organized arson, which was committed in order to harm the enemy. Another version is the chaos that arose when the inhabitants left the city. During a riot of fire, Napoleon had to leave the Kremlin, as a result of which he nearly died. After the fire subsided, Bonaparte ordered the arsonists to be found, during which several hundred people were shot.