A major blaze erupted at an industrial site in Khimki, just outside Moscow, beginning in a warehouse that stored mattresses. Eyewitnesses told Moscow 24 that flames quickly consumed the initial area and then spread to nearby facilities. The scene was chaotic as smoke poured into the air and firefighting crews moved swiftly to contain the fire, with the blaze expanding beyond the first structure as containment efforts continued through the morning hours.
The operators renting the premises housed multiple tenants, including firms in the security sector and those involved in furniture, tile, and related material production. This clustering of activities meant a wider footprint of the site was affected, and authorities worked to prevent a spread of damage to adjacent buildings while protecting nearby businesses and residents.
In the morning hours of July 11, a fire broke out at a ceramic tile workshop within Khimki. Telegram channel Shot reported that the blaze grew to cover about 5,000 square meters, signaling a substantial emergency with a broad fire front. Officials from the Ministry of Emergency Situations indicated that a helicopter was prepared to support aerial firefighting efforts, underscoring the scale and intensity of the incident as flames climbed above the roofline.
Witnesses described loud explosions coming from the burning workshop area, a detail often pointing to the presence of pressurized or highly flammable materials within the facility. An ambulance was visible at the site, reflecting the response to potential injuries among workers or nearby responders while firefighters tackled the flames from multiple angles.
According to local reports, fire crews managed to remove ten gas cylinders from the building, but twenty remained inside, raising the danger level and complicating suppression operations. The roof, damaged by the fire, partially collapsed, creating additional hazards for firefighters and emphasizing the precarious nature of large-scale industrial fires where structural integrity can deteriorate quickly.
More than fifty specialists and eighteen pieces of equipment were deployed to the scene, illustrating a coordinated, multi-agency response. As of the latest updates, there was no public disclosure about the exact cause of the fire or any confirmed fatalities, a reminder of the ongoing uncertainty that often accompanies the early stages of such incidents. The flames were brought under control by around noon, with responders focusing on localizing the fire and preventing rekindling as cooling measures and continuous monitoring proceeded.
Earlier reports mentioned another unrelated fire event at a historic landmark, noting that the Rouen Cathedral tower in France had caught fire, a separate incident that drew international attention and highlighted the global vigilance around large, old structures and the risks they face in urban environments. This linked context underscores how urban fires at industrial sites and historic structures alike can trigger broad emergency responses and cross-border discussions about safety and preparedness, as noted by observers and official channels cited in ongoing coverage. (Citation: Ministry of Emergency Situations and local authorities.)