A fire erupted at the Rice Center on the western side of Moscow, prompting authorities to report that the roof had collapsed. The incident drew immediate attention from the Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office Press Service, which confirmed that investigators are actively examining the events that led to the blaze and its consequences in a non-residential facility along the Berezhkovskaya embankment. Initial information indicates that part of the roof gave way under the intense heat and flames.
Officials from the prosecutor’s office are evaluating every detail to determine how the fire started and what factors contributed to the structural failure. The inquiry focuses on the sequence of events, the materials involved, and the adequacy of any safety measures in place at the time of the incident. Preliminary data suggests a partial roof collapse occurred, potentially affecting a sizable portion of the building’s upper level. The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities coordinating closely with fire and safety agencies to establish a precise timeline and scope of damage (attribution: TASS).
Reports from Moscow media indicate that the totals involved in the incident include a roof collapse spanning about 200 square meters, while the fire itself extended over roughly 600 square meters. Such figures are derived from early assessments conducted by emergency responders and city services as they conducted their on-site surveys and documented the extent of the destruction (attribution: Moscow Agency).
According to sources cited by nearby observers, the building housing the incident housed a car tuning studio located above the embankment area. The intense heat and resulting flames caused lithium batteries stored inside the structure to react violently, leading to multiple explosions and adding to the challenges faced by firefighters as they worked to bring the blaze under control (attribution: Moscow Agency).
Fire teams acted swiftly to create a safe perimeter, moving bystanders and employees to secure locations away from the danger. No casualties have been reported at this stage, though several people were evacuated as a precaution and treated for smoke exposure as a standard safety protocol during elevated fire incidents (attribution: TASS).
Earlier in the day, officials had addressed another fire incident connected to a different government facility on Znamenka Street, not far from the Kremlin, underscoring a period of elevated fire risks in the region. The latest event at the Rice Center adds to that context, and investigators are cross-referencing findings to piece together any common factors that might inform future prevention and response efforts (attribution: TASS).