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Fire-related damage at Krasnoyarsk Territory shopping center estimated at 50 million roubles

The blaze ranged on the area of 3,300 square meters. The auxiliary building fully burnt down. Eighteen units of equipment and 75 firefighters were involved in the rescue efforts

KRASNOYARSK, February 22 (Itar-Tass) — The damage caused by the fire at the trade center in the town of Lesosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk territory, has exceeded 50 million roubles. Preliminary reports said it had broken out at around 17:00, local time, because of careless handling of fire. It was only extinguished at around 23:19, local time /19:19, Moscow time/, the press service of the regional department of the Emergency Situations Ministry told Itar-Tass.

Firefighters were at the scene four minutes after receiving the report. "The personnel of fire brigades focused on evacuating people from the burning building. In all, they rescued 50 persons. The fire was spreading quickly because of the destruction of exterior glass panels and the presence of many flammable materials.

The shopping center operated two children's playrooms and police contacted playroom operators first thing to inquire if any children were around. As of the moment of fire, just one educator and her child were in the room and they were able to leave the building unharmed as the alarm went off.

The blaze ranged on the area of 3,300 square meters. The auxiliary building fully burnt down. Eighteen units of equipment and 75 firefighters were involved in the rescue efforts.

"More than 40 Lesosibirsk police and 10 units of service equipment were watching public order in the meantime.

At present, the building is guarded by police patrols.

Criminal proceedings were opened over "destruction or damage of property by negligence," regional police told Tass.

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