A significant fire was brought under control at a construction materials warehouse in Bodaibo, Irkutsk region, after burning across an area of about 2.5 thousand square meters. This update comes from the regional press service of the Ministry of Emergencies, which confirms the incident and the response details.
The blaze began in the early hours of January 25. At 07:15 local time (02:15 Moscow time), firefighters were alerted to a warehouse storing building materials on Stoyanovicha Street. The ministry explained that the flames rapidly spread across the site, driven by the heavy load of construction materials and the warehouse’s layout. Responding teams deployed seven pieces of equipment and mobilized 23 personnel to the scene, prioritizing rapid containment and protection of nearby structures.
Within a few hours, the efforts of the firefighting crews succeeded in bringing the fire under control. The Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that there were no injuries among responders or the public, a relief in an otherwise chaotic incident. Firefighting operations continued to focus on cooling hotspots, preventing rekindling, and safeguarding adjacent facilities from the dense smoke and embers that accompanied the blaze.
Rescue teams continued to circulate the site, actively irrigating the affected zone and dismantling compromised building elements to reduce the risk of a new ignition. Investigators from the Russian Emergencies Ministry remained at the location to determine the causes and circumstances surrounding the fire, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses to establish a clear timeline and origin of the event, as noted in official statements.
Earlier in the year, another major fire occurred at an oil refinery in Tuapse, which involved 99 personnel and 31 pieces of equipment in the extinguishing efforts. This recent incident in Bodaibo underscores the ongoing risk posed by large material stores and industrial facilities, and it highlights the importance of rapid response, structural assessment, and post-incident investigation to prevent similar events in the future.
Similar occurrences have been reported in the Chelyabinsk region, where a furniture factory also experienced a fire. Authorities continue to monitor these events and provide updates as investigations proceed, aiming to clarify the sequence of events, assess any potential safety improvements, and reinforce protections for workers and nearby communities.