Nikolay, an employee at the Wildberries warehouse in Shushary, described the fire as starting on the mezzanine level inside a multi-tier rack system. He noted that the interior door used for employee egress had been closed during the incident, which intensified the tension and risk. Yet he and several colleagues were able to organize a controlled evacuation, guiding workers to keep orderly lines and avoid crushes as the smoke thickened around them.
“The atmosphere was terrifying. The doors between the sections stayed shut. Our warehouse is split into two main blocks, and the evacuation routes run through the doors where trucks are often parked, turned over for loading and unloading. There are more than twenty passages in each block, and those routes were used to move people safely. The worst moment happened in the mezzanine area near the quarry, where the smoke and heat escalated quickly.” He recalled how he and others helped calm their colleagues, arranging entrances and exits in two parallel streams — one lane for entering, the other for exiting — to prevent crowding and ensure people could breathe better and move more freely. “Those who were changing clothes inside were moved along first to avoid delaying the evacuation,” he said. “The situation was frightening, but we kept calm and tried to prevent a stampede.”
Nikolay also said he retrieved personal belongings from the locker room, taking a calculated risk to recover items essential to his daily life and work. He described moving through areas where smoke had begun to creep in and where visibility was limited, noting a sharp sting in the eyes and the overpowering smell of burning materials. “When we left the dressing room, the lights were already fading,” he added, underscoring how quickly conditions deteriorated and how teamwork helped people stay safe amidst the danger.
The fire at the Wildberries warehouse in Shushary began on the morning of January 13. Officials from the Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that the affected area extended over about 70,000 square meters. Firefighting teams worked to contain the blaze and were able to localize the fire by around 10:55 Moscow time. The company confirmed that all employees had been evacuated and assured the vendors that compensation would be provided for goods damaged or burned during the incident. In the official briefing, no injuries were reported among workers or visitors, though the event caused significant disruption to operations and raised questions about safety protocols in warehouse facilities of this scale.
In the days that followed, Wildberries reiterated its commitment to supporting affected sellers, including arrangements for compensation and guidance on claims processing. The incident prompted a broader discussion about safety measures in large, high-density storage environments, particularly in facilities where multiple blocks and corridors must function as a coordinated system for rapid and orderly evacuation. Industry observers noted that well-planned egress routes, clear signage, and staff drills can dramatically reduce risk in emergencies, especially when doors and access points might be temporarily restricted during a crisis. The focus for the company and its partners has been on learning from the event, improving response times, and ensuring that workers feel empowered to act decisively while maintaining safety for themselves and their colleagues.
As investigators continued assessing the scene, engineers and safety experts emphasized the importance of robust fire protection systems, immediate notification protocols, and continuous training for staff to recognize early warning signs and implement controlled, organized evacuations. The Shushary incident underscored how crucial it is for large distribution centers to balance rapid emergency response with the need to minimize disruption to supply chains and protect the well-being of hundreds of workers who depend on these facilities daily. In the aftermath, stakeholders committed to reviewing facility layouts, improving door controls during emergencies, and reinforcing communication channels so that everyone involved can respond quickly and coherently in future events.
Overall, the incident highlighted a stark reality: preparedness saves lives. While the scene was tense and the risk was high, the actions of employees like Nikolay demonstrated how teamwork, calm leadership, and practical evacuation planning can avert tragedy even under harsh conditions. The warehouse stands as a reminder that ongoing vigilance, clear procedures, and supportive post-incident measures are essential to sustaining safety in high-volume storage operations across North America and beyond. The focus remains on safeguarding workers, securing merchandise, and maintaining trust with vendors and customers through transparent, accountable responses to emergencies, ongoing improvements, and robust compensation processes.
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