3000sq-meter flea maket fire in Almaty taken under control

Firefighters have managed to take the today's massive fire at Almaty flea market under control and stop it from spreading any further, Tengrinews reports. According to Almaty Emergency Department, the total area of the fire has reached 3000 square meters. The fire was taken under control at 11:08 a.m. The official have not yet announced the possible causes of the fire. But an investigation group has already been formed. According to preliminary information, one person has been injured in the incident and taken to a hospital with a broken leg. The fire in one of the rows of the flea market has been extinguished completely and the firefighters are moving deeper in the the large market. A helicopter, 41 fire engines and 245 firefighters are involved in the firefighting operation. Additional water for the fire engines is being delivered by 16 water-jetting vehicles of Tazalyk company. The KA-32 helicopter of KazAviaSpas emergency service has already release over 33 tons of water onto the fire. The fire started at about 3 a.m. at night. But the firefighters received a message about the fire only at 6 a.m. Two sections of the flea market are on fire: Kulager and Aral. The market is cordoned by the police and the outrage traders are trying to break through the police rows. The traders say they are going to stay at the market for the night and guard their goods, because they are concerned about the possible plundering. This is the second large fire at the flea market this fall. The previous one happened a little over 2 months ago, on September 13. The 5400 sq meter fire damaged four sections of the market: Olzha, Ayan, Keremet and Alatau. The massive fire was fully extinguished only the next day. The operation involved 1518 firefighters, 142 fire engines and 2 helicopters.