Fire Kills Woman At Psychiatric Hospital In Central Russia

<p>ZHERDEVKA, RUSSIA (BNO NEWS) -- A female patient was killed Wednesday morning when a fire broke out in her room at a psychiatric hospital in central Russia, just days after nearly 40 people died in a devastating fire at a mental hospital near the capital Moscow, local authorities said.

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<p>The incident happened at around 4:45 a.m. local time on Wednesday when a fire broke out inside a patient's room at a psychiatric hospital in Zherdevsky District of central Russia's Tambov region. It is believed the blaze began when a female patient was smoking in her bed, causing the bed to catch fire.

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<p>"Employees of the State Fire Service arrived at the scene in due time and extinguished the fire," said a spokesman for Russia's Investigative Committee, which launched a criminal case as is standard procedure. "The fire killed one person (the female patient). Fifty-two people were evacuated from the building."

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<p>Investigators were working at the scene Wednesday to determine the cause of the fire that completely destroyed the room and caused smoke and heat damage in a nearby corridor. "Through the investigation the causes of the fire and the exact circumstances of the incident will be established," the spokesman added.

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<p>Wednesday's incident comes just days after a fire broke out at a psychiatric hospital in the small town of Ramensky near Moscow. A total of 38 people were killed in the blaze on Friday, including 36 patients and two doctors. Two patients and a medical worker were able to escape safely.

</p> <p> (Copyright 2013 by BNO News B.V. All rights reserved. Info: [email protected].) </p>