News

Probe launched in death of three in fire in Khabarovsk Territory

The Khabarovsk Territory Office of the Investigative Committee has opened an investigation reckless homicide under Part 3 of Article 109 of the RF Criminal Code after three people (a 66-year-old woman and 2 men aged 53 and 52) were killed in a fire.

A fire started on the morning of 14 December 2017 in a flat on the first floor of a block of flats in Zheleznodorozhny District of Khabarovsk. The elderly owners of the flat got out, but three people living upstairs were killed. According to preliminary information, they died of smoke inhalation.

The reason for the fire might have been an electric heater with a ventilator. The owners of the burned flat had out it on their balcony to warm jars with pickled vegetables. The heater caught fire for yet unknown reason and flames spread fist to the things the owners were storing on the balcony and then the entire flat was in flames.

At present, investigative operations are underway to find out all the circumstances surrounding the crime. The investigation is ongoing.