AUTHORITIES LAUNCH PROBE INTO ISAHAKIAN 28 FIRE

ARMENPRESS
Feb 11, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS: Authorities have opened an
investigation to specify what was the cause of a fire that broke out in
a downtown Yerevan building that houses three news agencies-Armenpress,
Noyan Tapan and Arminfo, as well as the biggest Internet provider
Arminco.

The fire broke out at about 3.00 pm on February 9.

According to emergency department, the alarm call was received at
3.40. The first brigade arrived 30 minutes after the call and put
out the fire that was in the basement floor. But at 5 pm a second
signal was received and another fire engine arrived as the fire was
not extinguished completely.

The fire is believed to have been caused by burning fiber cable that
was in the basement for repair work.

The fire disrupted the work of the news agencies forcing employees
out of the building through a thick wall of black smoke. The volume
of damages is being specified. The thick smoke reached the top floor
where Armenpress is damaging its computers, other technique and the
furniture and smearing walls.

The building at Isahakian 28 is run by a government affiliation in
charge of state-run property and the basement where the fire occurred
is privatized by a private person.