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Fire spread very fast in the mental hospital

The nurse who attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher could not do it

MOSCOW, April 26 (Itar-Tass) – The fire spread very fast in the mental hospital in the settlement of Ramensky, the Moscow Region. The nurse who attempted to put it out with a fire extinguisher could not do it.

The nearest station of firefighters is located about 50 km away from the site, which does not comply with the regulations, the head of the Russian Emergencies Ministry's department for control, Yuri Deshevykh, told Itar-Tass.

The nurse saw a fire at about 01:30 Moscow time and began to fight it with a fire extinguisher. She failed to put the blaze out, and the burning area enlarged. One of the patients was in the corridor. The woman with the patient called a guard who was in another hospital building. The guard called firemen, Deshevykh said.

Another patient himself got out of the burning building.

There were 41 people in the hospital. Three survived, and 38 are dead.

When asked whether the attempts by themselves to extinguish the fire resulted in so grave consequences, the official hesitated to give a definite answer. It is early to say about it, he said.

The nearest station of firefighters is located 51 km away from the settlement. Such a long distance to a fire-fighting service does not conform to the fire safety regulations, under which, firefighters must arrive at a site in a rural area no later than in 20 minutes, the official explained.

Setting up stations of firefighters in residential areas is under the jurisdiction of local authorities. The regional authorities planned to open a post of firefighters 10 km away from the settlement in the summer of this year, he said.

The patients took medicines before going to sleep in accordance with their treatment prescriptions. They could not move fast, and it resulted in so heavy consequences, the official noted.