Negligent use of gasoline suspected in deadly barracks fire

YEREVAN, JANUARY 19, ARMENPRESS. Authorities say the fire which killed 15 troops at a barracks was caused by negligent use of gasoline to start a heating fireplace.

The prosecution said that at 05:15, January 19, the military base contacted the Military Police Department of Vardenis and said that a fire broke out during the lighting of a heater with gasoline inside the building of the military base in Azat village around 01:30.

15 conscripts died in the fire. Another 6 conscripts and 1 officer are hospitalized with burns.

A criminal case has been initiated on aggravated violation of safety rules with hazardous materials which negligently caused multiple deaths.

The Military Prosecutor of Armenia Grigor Elizbaryan is at the scene.

Investigators are working to determine the circumstances of the incident.