Strategic Russian enterprise burns in St. Petersburg: Footage from scene
Fire at the Avangard plant in Saint Petersburg (Photo: t.me/mchspetersburg)
In the city of Saint Petersburg (Russia), a fire broke out at the Avangard plant during the night of May 29. Firefighters are working to extinguish the blaze at the facility, which is listed as a strategic enterprise in the country, according to the Telegram channel of the Saint Petersburg Ministry of Emergency Situations and Russian social media sources.
It should be noted that news about the fire at the Saint Petersburg Avangard plant appeared online late in the evening the day before. Additionally, footage was shared showing thick black smoke rising over the city due to the fire.
The cause of the fire at the facility has not been disclosed. Russian sources wrote that the fire emergency is not related to a possible air attack.
Local authorities have not disclosed details of the incident. Meanwhile, the St. Petersburg emergency services reported after the first night that firefighting efforts are ongoing at the production building on Kondratievsky Prospekt, 72.
"On the 5th floor of the 6-story building, a fire is burning over an area of 100 square meters. There are no reports of casualties," the St. Petersburg Ministry of Emergency Situations stated.
It was also reported that 11 units of equipment and 41 personnel were involved in extinguishing the fire.
Later, local emergency services announced that the fire at the Avangard plant had been contained.
"Work to completely eliminate the fire continues. The open flames have been extinguished," the city's Ministry of Emergency Situations representatives reported online.
What is known about the Avangard plant
According to open sources, this scientific and production enterprise manufactures radio electronics, microcircuit technology, and is involved in instrument engineering as well as the production of basic supporting structures for radio-electronic equipment.
JSC Avangard is listed among the strategic and system-forming enterprises of Russia and holds the status of a Federal Scientific and Production Center in the country.
In 2014, the Microsystem Technology Center was opened on the basis of JSC Avangard. The main building is located in Saint Petersburg at Kondratyevsky Avenue, 72.
This winter, explosions occurred in Moscow, followed by a large fire at a big warehouse.
In April, a shipbuilding plant caught fire in the Russian city of Petrozavodsk.
It was also reported that last year, the icebreaker Yermak caught fire at the port of Saint Petersburg.
