Fire destroys another shopping center in Moscow, the 2nd such fire in 4 days
MOSCOW — A massive fire engulfed a shopping mall on the eastern outskirts of Moscow on Monday, the second such blaze in four days.
The fire at the Balashikha Mall, which sells construction items and home decor materials, first broke out in a storage area and then spread to part of the building.
Fire crews managed to locate it over an area of approximately 9,000 square meters (97,000 square feet) and prevent it from engulfing the entire mall.
Officials said the fire was caused by a short circuit that occurred amid heavy rain in Moscow.
The blaze follows Friday’s blaze that destroyed the massive OBI building materials store, part of the MEGA shopping center in Khimki, on the northwestern outskirts of the Russian capital.
Officials said the fire that killed a security guard was started by a welder who apparently violated safety rules.
washingtonpost
