Breaking! Russian Cafe Fire Claims 15 Lives in Early Morning Blaze

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Tragic Café Fire in Russian City Claims 15 Lives

According to Russian media reports, a café in Kostroma, Russia, caught fire in the early hours of November 5th, resulting in 15 deaths and 5 injuries. After receiving the alarm, local fire departments dispatched 20 fire trucks and 50 firefighters, taking 5 hours to completely extinguish the flames.

According to videos provided by netizens, at 2 AM on the 5th, a café suddenly caught fire and it spread rapidly. Due to the intensity of the blaze, the café's roof completely collapsed during firefighting efforts, causing the entire café as well as multiple surrounding houses and shops to be engulfed by fire.

Preliminary investigations show that the fire covered an area of 3,500 square meters. In addition to the casualties, 250 people were urgently evacuated.

Investigation and Aftermath

Before the incident, witnesses reported that an intoxicated man had an altercation with others inside the café. The man then used a signal pistol to fire a flare (not considered a lethal weapon, primarily used for short-range signaling, illumination, and observation on night battlefields). However, because it transforms into fireworks after being fired, it ignited indoor decorative materials and triggered this fire.

Currently, authorities in Kostroma have arrested a male suspect on the same day and handed him over to special investigators. After the fire, regional legislative members and café owner Ihtiyar Mirzoyev promised to provide assistance to those affected by the fire.

The Governor of Kostroma Oblast also later announced that November 7th would be a day of mourning in Kostroma Oblast. On this day, flags across the state will be lowered, and entertainment activities will be canceled.

Fire Safety Regulations

Because accidents involving fires and injuries caused by fireworks and firecrackers are not uncommon, various regions in our country have implemented regulations prohibiting the setting off of fireworks and firecrackers in recent years. It is also prohibited to carry fireworks, firecrackers, and other flammable and explosive items into public places, and many indoor venues have also established no-smoking rules.

When a fire occurs indoors, the first thing we must do is to remain calm and leave the scene as quickly as possible. Depending on the environmental conditions at the time, cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel, lower your head and bend down to avoid smoke from above, and evacuate to a safe passage.

Café Safety Guidelines

Although many cafés rarely use open flame equipment and have no-smoking regulations, it is essential to always pay attention to the safe use of electrical equipment. Additionally, cafés need to be equipped with at least two fire extinguishers and filtered fire self-rescue respirators, placed within easy reach and replaced annually.

For coffee shops with in-house roasting, special attention must be paid to equipment maintenance, safe use of gas/natural gas, proper installation of exhaust systems, cleaning the chaff collector after each roast, and ensuring proper ventilation in the roasting room. The roaster must never be left unattended during operation. If problems occur, it is necessary to immediately cut off the power supply and turn off the gas/natural gas.

Image source: Internet

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