Image credits: The Moscow Times
A fire erupted on Tuesday afternoon at NPO Avtomatiki, a manufacturing facility in Yekaterinburg, located in Russia’s Ural Mountains. Local media reports and social media posts showed dramatic images of a large column of black smoke rising from the site.
NPO Avtomatiki, a subsidiary of the Roscosmos space agency, specializes in control systems and radio-electronic equipment for rocket and space technology. The origin of the fire is not yet determined, and authorities are still investigating the situation.
According to the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry, fire crews responded promptly to the incident. They reported that approximately 800 square meters (about 8,611 square feet) of the building, which houses chemical products, was engulfed in flames. Efforts were focused on extinguishing the blaze and preventing it from spreading further. E1.ru, a local news outlet, cited an anonymous source indicating that the fire started in an area where welding work was being conducted. This part of the facility contained chemicals, which probably intensified the blaze.
Emergency officials have not reported any injuries or fatalities related to the fire at this time. The blaze has prompted significant concerns about the safety of the facility and its surroundings, with local authorities continuing to manage the situation. NPO Avtomatiki’s role in developing critical technology for space missions underscores the importance of the facility. The fire’s impact on operations and the potential risks posed by the chemicals involved are subjects of ongoing concern.