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Fireman injured in arm by burned cottage owner in Moscow region

A fireman was shot in the arm while putting out a cottage fire in Balashikha, Moscow region

MOSCOW, April 6 (Itar-Tass) —— A fireman was shot in the arm while putting out a cottage fire in Balashikha, Moscow region, on Friday, the Moscow regional office of the Russian Investigation Committee told Itar-Tass.

“A fireman was lightly shot in the arm,” the office said. “The police were told at 3:00 p.m. Moscow time that a pensioner started a fire in a house on Nizhnyaya Street in Balashikha and the fire spread into several private homes. Emergency Situations Ministry officers came to the fire scene and the pensioner opened gunfire. Presumably, he used a smooth barrel weapon. The pensioner shot himself dead in the end,” the office said.

Regional police spokesman Yevgeny Gideyev said that SOBR servicemen found the body inside the cottage. The man set the house on fire after his wife died and called the firemen. Firemen were informed about the burning cottage at 2:20 p.m. Moscow time and arrived ten minutes later. Yet the cottage owner opened gunfire. Presumably, he was drunk.

The police tried to storm the cottage but the attempt failed. The fire was put out at 4:20 p.m. Moscow time.

The regional police are holding a preliminary investigation.