Alexander Basov, a director and screenwriter, faced a devastating fire at his country residence near Dmitrov after the New Year festivities. He shares the incident on his VKontakte page, detailing the harrowing experience and the injuries he sustained. He is currently receiving treatment at a hospital outside Moscow and has contracted coronavirus during this difficult time.
Basov explains that the boiler room was the source of the blaze. He describes being overwhelmed by smoke and poison from burning plastics, which severely affected his breathing and body. The fire did not engulf the entire house, but the damage was serious enough to complicate his recovery. He emphasizes that he did not have his work uniform with him and that his current mobility is limited; writing and daily routines have become challenging tasks in the wake of the incident.
In his account, Basov recounts that within 3 to 3.5 minutes, in near total darkness and a toxic air environment, he managed to reach the first floor, locate a fire extinguisher, and open the boiler room door to extinguish the flames. He then had to return to the burning area to retrieve his phone and shoes, moving through snow barefoot while attempting to quell the fire. Those few additional minutes at home proved fatal for his plans and delayed his escape, according to his post.
When firefighters arrived, Basov says he had already managed to dampen the fire in the open space, though the overall danger and damage remained significant. He conveys a sense of personal loss that extends beyond material ruin and physical harm, noting that health, livelihood, and the home itself were compromised. He describes accumulating debts and a sense of personal sacrifice, framing the incident as the result of others’ greed and incompetence that left him to bear the consequences alone.
The broader context of the event includes speculation about a fire at a colleague’s residence in the Moscow region offered as a point of reference, though details remain unclear. The narrative appears to be part of a larger conversation about safety, accountability, and the vulnerabilities that public figures can face in times of crisis. The recounting of these events underscores the fragility of personal and professional stability in the wake of a sudden disaster and invites reflection on the responsibilities of others in preventing such harm.
Further context mentions a separate, unrelated financial matter involving a well-known public figure who previously sold a watch that drew considerable attention for its high value, illustrating a broader tapestry of public interest surrounding the lives of celebrities and cultural personalities. The juxtaposition of these stories invites readers to consider how personal misfortune, public perception, and financial decisions intersect in moments of upheaval and uncertainty.