Moscow Times, Russia
July 12 2005

Ukhta Fire Death Toll Reaches 24

By Antonio Lupher
Special to The Moscow Times

The death toll from the Ukhta shopping center blaze rose to 24 on Tuesday
amid speculation by local authorities that it might be linked to business
conflicts.

Twenty-three women and one man died in the fire, which broke out Monday,
primarily from inhaling toxic fumes, said Yevgeny Varikov, a spokesman for
the Ukhta emergency services. At least seven more were hospitalized, three
of which, including a 7-month-old baby, remained in intensive care, he said.

The flames were finally extinguished Tuesday morning, and while firefighters
on the scene were still working to remove the debris, they had called off
the search for more bodies, Varikov said.

A criminal investigation into suspected arson has been opened, said Ivan
Kondrat, deputy chief prosecutor of the Northwest Federal District, Interfax
reported. “The witnesses’ statements and forensic evidence all suggest that
the fire was intentional,” he said, noting that traces of flammable oil
products were detected in two 5-liter plastic bottles and in two backpacks
found at the scene.

Prosecutors said the fire was most likely started because of commercial
disputes, Interfax reported.

“The motives of the crime are still being determined. It may have been a
conflict involving owners of the building or of the stores within it. We
know nothing for certain yet,” Kondrat said late Tuesday, Interfax reported.

According to witnesses, two teenagers ran into the building, tossed bottles
with flaming oil onto the ground and fled. One of the store’s staff said he
saw the burning liquid flowing swiftly along the building’s central
staircase, the prosecutor said.

Possible motives for an arson attack were unclear, but Kommersant reported
that local officials suspect that a criminal gang, known as the Blues for
their tattoos, hired the teenagers. The group is known for being hostile to
increasing business influence in the area from the Caucasus.

“Recently, in Ukhta, as in other large cities, commerce is increasingly
carried out by Azeris, manufacturing by Armenians and transportation by
Dagestanis. Local gangs … go after those who get the business,” one
investigator, who did not disclose his name, told the paper.

A Komi Republic government commission on Tuesday was told to find out in the
next days what caused the fire, a spokesman said, Interfax reported.

A total of 3.8 million rubles ($130,000) from an emergency reserve fund has
been set aside for the committee’s use. “In part, the funds will also go to
providing material support to the families of those who were killed and
injured,” the press secretary said.

Although the Passazh shopping center was recently renovated, it failed to
meet basic fire safety standards, local firefighters said, Kommersant
reported. Among the obstacles that fleeing shoppers faced were locked fire
exits and windows barred with iron gratings, the firefighters said.

“The place used to be a wooden barracks for settlers. Although the interior
was renovated, its safety level was still that of a barracks,” said one
firefighter, who was not identified. “When the fire started, Passazh turned
into a crematorium.”