The key facts
- Maria Shurochkina, with burns to her face, arms and chest, was taken to the Sklifosovsky Institute and is in the burn intensive care unit
- The fire broke out in a four-room apartment on the 17th floor of the Svoy residential complex on Bagritsky Street
- The exact cause of the fire is still being determined; the rescuer suggested a flash of fuel vapors while refueling a biofireplace
The victim and circumstances of the fire
Olympic champion Maria Shurochkina, the sister of singer Nyusha, was injured in a fire in a Moscow apartment and was taken to the Sklifosovsky Institute of Emergency Care with burns to her face, arms and chest; according to Life.ru, she is in the burn intensive care unit. The fire engulfed a four-room apartment on the 17th floor of the Svoy residential complex on Bagritsky Street. During the evacuation, neighbors heard screams, found the athlete on the staircase and called an ambulance.
The biofireplace theory
The exact cause of the incident is still being determined. An Emergency Ministry (EMERCOM) officer, rescuer Vitaly Boyko, in an interview with Life.ru, suggested that the fire could have been caused by a flash of fuel vapors while refueling a biofireplace. According to him, it is dangerous to pour alcohol-based fuel into a fireplace that is lit or has not yet cooled down: the liquid and its vapors can ignite instantly, and if it gets on clothing, the fire spreads quickly. The rescuer compared such a situation to pouring lighter fluid onto smoldering coals — even the container in a person's hands can flare up. He stressed that a biofireplace remains a device with an open flame, despite its decorative purpose.
What is known about statistics and safety rules
According to Boyko, there is no separate statistics on fires involving biofireplaces: such cases are usually counted under the general category of careless handling of fire. The consequences can be severe, especially if synthetic clothing melts and sticks to the skin. If clothing catches fire, the main thing is not to run: movement intensifies the burning. The rescuer advises dropping to the floor and rolling to smother the flames, or extinguishing them with a thick cloth or blanket while keeping the head exposed — this rule is also included in EMERCOM recommendations. After extinguishing, the burned areas should be cooled with water and medical help called; blisters must not be punctured, and stuck clothing must not be torn off. If the fire spreads through the apartment, one should leave by a safe route, close the door behind and call emergency services at 112.
