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While Moscow authorities prepare to discuss the reconstruction of the Manezh exhibition hall, which burnt down last Sunday, an investigation continues into the cause of the incident. Fire-fighting and technical experts of the Emergencies Ministry and the Federal Security Service came to the conclusion that the attic of the building could not have gone on fire accidentally – from a cigarette, short circuit or a firework, as reported earlier, the Kommersant newspaper writes. According to experts, the fire was caused by a powerful ejection of thermal energy created with the help of flammable liquids or pyrotechnic materials.
However, it is very difficult to prove the arson theory, with possible evidence destroyed by fire. Experts say the fire started at the Manezh and spread across the entire building very quickly. At 21:00 on Sunday, the guards of the exhibition center walked around the building, and none of them smelt smoke. Fourteen minutes later, a traffic police officer reported a large fire in the upper floor of the Manezh.
The attic and the roof of the building were built of wood, and, in principle, they could burn quickly, experts say. But it is difficult to set them on fire. For example, the floor of the attic was made of 40mm thick wooden planks. In addition, the attic was protected with fire-resistant materials three years ago. Finally, investigators gave up all the three initial theories – cigarette, short circuit and firework.
As for the short circuit version, it did not hold up as there was no other electric equipment on the upper floor except small lamps. The firework version was also dropped as all the windows of the building were glassed and tightly closed, according to the guards.
And the third theory, which suggested that a lighted cigarette butt could have caused the fire, was also abandoned. Presumably, dust, tobacco or peat, which was allegedly used as insulating material, could have caught fire. Experts said there was no sign that any of these materials were present during the fire. The employees of the Manezh also told Kommersant that the attic was very clean. One of the oldest employees of the exhibition hall said that indeed, the floor of the attic used to be covered by a thick layer of tobacco, used as heating and antiseptic material, but the tobacco was used for cigarettes during the Second World War.
Having given up all these theories, experts came to the conclusion that only an artificially created ejection of thermal energy could have caused the fire.
A fire broke out in at the Manezh exhibition hall in the evening of March 14. The historic building (built in 1817) was almost completely destroyed by fire. Two firefighters were killed as the huge roof of the exhibition hall caved in.
Criminal proceedings have been started under Article 109 (causing of death through negligence) and Article 168 of the Russian Criminal Code (causing destruction or damage to property through negligence).
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RUSSIA IN FACTS
