MOSCOW. Jan 20 (Interfax-AVN) - Man-made fires claimed the lives of 19,906 people in Russia last year, while 14,434 people got injuries and various gravity burns, the information and PR department of the Emergencies Ministry reported on Monday.
According to data available to the ministry, 259,836 fires destroyed 79,458 installations, 7,994 pieces of equipment and some 6,500 cattle in Russia last year. Firemen saved 69,919 people and materiel worth over RUB23bn (USD722.81m).
The department said that the number of fires grew by 5.5% in comparison with the year 2000. The situation was the most complicated in the Central federal district where the number of fires increased by 17.9% and the number of casualties by 10.5%.
A total of 72.8% fires were registered in the residential sector. The most common reasons for the fires are household alcohol abuse, careless handling of fire, violation of operation rules for electronic equipment, stoves and various heating devices.