Mother Recounts Tragic Fire That Killed Son and Friend in Ural
Andrei died in a private house where he was celebrating the New Year with friends
The mother of 14-year-old Andrei, who died in a fire near Serov, told E1.RU the details of what happened.
Recall that the tragedy happened on the afternoon of January 1 in the village of Medyankino. A large group of 13 people, among whom only one was an adult, a 20-year-old guy (all others aged 12 to 17), was celebrating the New Year. In the morning, the kids decided to light the stove. At some point, one of the teenagers poured flammable liquid into the fire — a blaze erupted. Two people — 14-year-old Andrei and 12-year-old Polina — died, and four others were injured.
According to the mother of the deceased, Anastasia, her son burned alive because of someone else«s argument.
«As the kids told me, two guys bet that one would pour gasoline into the stove while it was lit. He sprayed it, and that was it, the fire started. That»s all I know at the moment.«
Andrei himself was right on the stove at the time, from which the intense fire began.
Anastasia did not know that Andrei would go to celebrate the New Year in a garden house. She let him go to his friends only because in the group there was the 20-year-old son of her close friend, who could look after the minor child if needed.
«It was my mistake, I didn»t anticipate it. He told me they would go to an apartment. I said: «Son, just be careful, cautious.» I didn«t foresee any trouble at all. When they called me and said it was a garden house, I was completely shocked. If I had known they were going to the dacha, I would have stopped him by all means, because it»s precisely at dachas that all these incidents happen,« Anastasia said.
In the end, the guy whom Anastasia knew in the group managed to escape. According to her, he suffered severe burns.
«His legs, arms, and face were badly damaged. From the other deceased girl, Polina, they say only a char remained. Andrei’s leg and arm burned, his torso and left arm survived, his head was burned.»
The suspect, who allegedly tried to light the stove using flammable liquid, Andrei’s mother saw at the investigative committee. She assumes the guy is from a troubled family. Anastasia wants to ensure punishment for the culprit of the tragedy.
«I can»t get my child back. I don«t have my protector, my support, my hope for the future now. Gone. I lost him,» said the mother of the deceased teenager.
Now the family is doing everything to raise money for the funeral arrangements. Anastasia is also raising two other young children.
«Andrei was in 8th grade. He would always compromise, always help everyone. He always smiled, loved me very much: »Mommy, let me hug you, let«s talk.» He was soft-hearted. Of course, as they say, boys will be boys. Sometimes he went out without permission, I scolded him. He went to a karate section, they wanted to take him to training camp in January, he was supposed to perform, but…« Andrei’s mother shared.
The E1.RU editorial team expresses condolences to Andrei’s family and loved ones.
Read instructions on how to act in case of fire in an apartment building without a smoke exhaust system. Previously, a firefighter explained which houses are most dangerous to live in and who has chances to escape from a burning apartment. For instance, one should not try to exit through a smoke-filled entrance.
Also, we recently published an explanation by EMERCOM on whether a fire can occur due to a forgotten iron, as well as provided several useful tips to help avoid incidents.
