Sailors who extinguished fire at Bystry are to be decorated

05.10.2010 Capt. Lt. Konoplev and seamen Aldar Tsidenzhapov, Pavel Osetrov, and Alexander Korovin who had extinguished fire at Pacific Fleet (PF) destroyer Bystry are to be awarded for the courage displayed, reports Kommersant referring to Capt 1 rank Roman Martov, head of PF Information and Public Relations Service.

All three enlisted sailors suffered while firefighting and were hospitalized. Two of them has been already discharged; Tsidenzhapov was the last who left the compartment, so he was heavily burnt and died in the hospital on Sept 28.

The fire occurred at PF destroyer Bystry on Sept 24; the ship was staying at the quay in Strelok Bay. The fire reason was rupture of fuel pipeline and ignition of residual blend in bow machinery compartment. Bystry was warming up turbines before scheduled test cruise to the Sea of Japan. Despite the fact that the hot spot was brought under control within several minutes and the ship had kept combat and motion capabilities, the cruise was canceled. At present, PF inspection and military investigators work on board the ship. PF investigative committee is about to initiate a criminal case based on cl. 353, Russian Criminal Code ("Misconduct of navigation or operation of warships resulted in death or other serious consequences").