‘The Air Burned My Face’: Two Girls Trapped in Elevator During Vladivostok Fire

Two girls were injured due to a fire that started on the stairwell near a garbage chute in a hostel on Lugovaya Street, 70. According to one of them, they found themselves locked in the elevator cabin on the floor where flames were already raging, and they barely managed to escape. Both sustained burns.

One of the women said that on the first floor, there was no smell of smoke when they entered the elevator, only then it smelled of plastic. The elevator first arrived at the 6th floor, but the doors did not open fully and immediately slammed shut, and the cabin moved directly towards the source of the fire.

‘In the entrance, the garbage chute was burning. Black smoke poured into the corridor. The elevator door opened slightly by 10–15 centimeters. The girl began to lose consciousness and slide down, probably due to lack of air. I told her that we would get out now, and asked her to hold her breath. I jerked the elevator. The door managed to open. Fortunately, it was level with the floor. The hot air burned my face and hands immediately, and my lips were injured from opening the door with my hands. Due to heavy smoke, the second girl could not find the exit for a long time. I tried to shine my phone at her and at the same time called the Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM). Then I went down the floors. After 30 minutes, she came out of the entrance with burns on her hands and face,’ the victim says.

The woman plans to file a complaint with the prosecutor«s office, together with the parents of the other victim they will file for compensation and decide how to deal with the management company. At the time of publication, the condition of the second victim is unknown.

The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations (EMERCOM) reported that the message about the fire was received at 09:05. At the time of arrival, after 8 minutes, garbage and household furniture were burning in the corridor on the 7th floor, near the garbage chute. 10 people managed to evacuate independently, despite heavy smoke on several floors.

Now the 7th and 8th floors are covered in soot, the elevators are not working — even their buttons have melted. When they will be repaired is unknown. Residents demand to punish the management company, which, in their opinion, never responded to requests to remove bulky waste from the floors. They are also trying to find out who exactly brought out the sofa and did not bother to take it down to the street. Some claim that there is not even a special area for such items near the house, so many leave furniture, boxes, and other things that do not fit in the garbage chute right there, near the elevator.

Update: It turned out that there are areas for bulky waste, but people simply do not take what they throw out there.

What to do if neighbors do not comply with these requirements?

First of all, it is necessary to record the violations with photo/video recording. If it is known who is doing it, then try to talk to them, but when there is no reaction, you can contact the management company, the local police officer, EMERCOM, or Rospotrebnadzor. Cluttering common areas is a violation of fire safety and sanitary norms.